The storied rivalry between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers added another memorable chapter on February 22, 2026, as the Celtics stormed into Crypto.com Arena and left with a resounding 111-89 victory. The win completed a season sweep for Boston over their West Coast adversaries and marked the Celtics’ third consecutive victory—eighth in their last nine games—as they continue to chase the Detroit Pistons atop the Eastern Conference standings.
On a night when Lakers legends Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar watched from the stands and Pat Riley was honored with a bronze statue outside the arena, it was Payton Pritchard who stole the show. Coming off the bench, Pritchard erupted for 30 points on a blistering 10-for-14 shooting, including 6-of-9 from three-point range, and dished out eight assists over 38 minutes. Not to be outdone, Jaylen Brown poured in a game-high 32 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and handed out seven assists, asserting himself as a force throughout the contest.
Pritchard’s performance was a masterclass in efficiency and confidence. After being held scoreless in the first quarter, he caught fire in the second, dropping 11 points and capping the half with a buzzer-beating three-pointer that sent the Celtics into the break with a 60-50 lead. "I think it’s just the rivalry," Pritchard reflected in the postgame locker room, according to The Boston Globe. "Felt like I’m back in my college days [at Oregon] where I’m playing Washington or Arizona or something. Rivalry will bring that out of you."
The Lakers, meanwhile, struggled to find their rhythm. LeBron James, who notched his 43,000th career point and played in his 1,600th regular-season game—joining Celtics great Robert Parish as the only NBA players to reach such a milestone—finished with 20 points. Luka Doncic added 25, but the Lakers’ offense sputtered, managing their second-lowest point total of the season. Austin Reaves chipped in 15 points, but Los Angeles was hampered by three technical fouls and a mounting sense of frustration, particularly after backup center Jaxson Hayes exited with an ankle injury before halftime.
Boston’s game plan was clear and executed with precision. The Celtics outpaced the Lakers in nearly every statistical category that mattered. They made five more three-pointers, shooting 39% from deep compared to the Lakers’ 30%, and dominated the glass, pulling down 50 rebounds to LA’s 39—including 10 more defensive boards. The Celtics’ defense was particularly effective in limiting Doncic’s playmaking, holding him to just three assists and forcing him into a series of tough, contested shots.
Coach Joe Mazzulla praised Pritchard’s work ethic and humility, telling reporters, "I think his confidence comes from his work ethic. I think it also comes from his humility to be like, ‘This is who I am and this is what I have to do to get to where I want to get to.’" Brown echoed the sentiment, noting, "He’s shooting the ball well and he’s seeing the game well. So, Payton has been playing at an All-Star level. And I’m happy to see it. Nobody’s happier to see it than me. So we find ways throughout the game to trust him and allow him to run the show."
The Lakers tried to disrupt the Celtics with a matchup zone early on, but Boston’s patience and ball movement—often orchestrated by Pritchard—eventually broke down LA’s defensive schemes. Whenever the Lakers showed signs of life, particularly early in the fourth quarter when they trimmed the deficit to nine, Pritchard responded with clutch buckets, including a pair of mid-range jumpers and a step-back three over a defender that essentially sealed the outcome. He finished the night with a team-best plus-21 rating.
Jaylen Brown, despite a slow start (3-for-12 in the first half), found his groove after halftime. He poured in 19 of his 32 points in the second half, helping the Celtics maintain control even as the Lakers attempted to rally. Brown’s all-around effort—seven assists, eight rebounds, and three steals—underscored his growing leadership on this surging Boston squad.
The Celtics’ supporting cast also contributed in key moments. Nikola Vucevic provided a steady presence in the post, and Baylor Scheierman and Hugo González drew praise for their defensive work, particularly against Doncic. Boston’s ability to avoid fouling—a crucial factor against a Lakers team that leads the league in free throw attempts—further limited LA’s scoring opportunities. The Lakers managed just 18 free throws, well below their season average, and converted only 12 points from the charity stripe.
This latest win continues a remarkable run for Boston since Pritchard’s move back to the bench following the trade of Anfernee Simons earlier in February. In his new role, Pritchard has scored at least 20 points in six of seven games, averaging 23.6 points on 54.4% shooting from the field and 46.6% from beyond the arc. The Celtics have gone 6-1 in that stretch, with seven of their last eight victories coming by double digits—an emphatic statement to the rest of the NBA.
The night was not without its emotional moments for the Lakers, as the team honored Pat Riley at halftime with a statue unveiling. Riley, who led the franchise to four NBA titles as head coach in the 1980s, was surrounded by former players and delivered an impassioned address to the crowd. Yet, the celebration could not inspire the current Lakers roster to overcome Boston’s relentless attack.
Looking ahead, both teams face quick turnarounds. The Celtics travel to Phoenix to face the Suns on February 24, in what promises to be another tough test on their road trip. The Lakers, licking their wounds from another home defeat, will look to regroup as they host the Orlando Magic the same night.
For Boston, this victory not only reinforces their championship aspirations but also sends a clear message: the Celtics are peaking at the right time, blending veteran leadership, emerging stars, and a bench that can swing games in their favor. As the regular season enters its final stretch, fans on both coasts will be watching closely to see if this rivalry has another playoff showdown in store.