Key Takeaways:
- Jaylen Brown tallied 32 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists as Boston defeated Los Angeles 111-89
- Payton Pritchard contributed 30 points with six three-pointers and eight assists in the Celtics’ third consecutive victory
- LeBron James marked his 43,000th career point while the Lakers registered their second-lowest point total of the campaign
Match Overview
The Boston Celtics secured a comprehensive 111-89 triumph over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night in Los Angeles, successfully sweeping the season series between these storied rivals. Jaylen Brown shone with 32 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists, while Payton Pritchard delivered a standout performance with 30 points, nailing six shots from behind the arc and providing eight assists. This victory marked Boston’s third successive win and eighth in their last nine games as the club continues its pursuit of Detroit in the Eastern Conference standings.
Season sweep ✌ #BeatLA pic.twitter.com/Fg8u3icO3G
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) February 23, 2026
Second Half Surge and Key Moments
Brown and Pritchard each notched 19 points in the second half, driving the Celtics’ charge after the interval. Pritchard capped off the result with a step-back three-pointer at the 3:24 mark, a moment that saw the Lakers clear their bench amidst scattered boos from the home supporters. Throughout the second half, Boston maintained a firm grip on proceedings, rarely looking threatened as they extended their all-time tally against the Lakers in a rivalry featuring 35 NBA titles combined.
Lakers’ Struggles and Notable Milestones
Luka Doncic registered 25 points and LeBron James reached a historic 43,000 career points with his 20-point contribution. However, the Lakers fell short against a formidable title contender for the third time in two weeks. Their offensive struggles were evident as Los Angeles posted its second-lowest scoring output of the season. Austin Reaves finished with 15 points for the hosts, who also expressed frustration at officiating, drawing three technical fouls after several contentious decisions.
LeBron James’ 1,600th regular-season appearance saw him join Robert Parish (1,611) as the only NBA players to reach that milestone, further cementing his legacy alongside Celtics legends. The Lakers, back to near full health with Doncic, James, and Reaves all featuring together for only the 12th time this season, lost backup centre Jaxson Hayes to an ankle injury before the interval.
Statistical Summary
| Team | Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Celtics | Jaylen Brown | 32 | 8 | 7 |
| Boston Celtics | Payton Pritchard | 30 | 4 | 8 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | Luka Doncic | 25 | 5 | 3 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | LeBron James | 20 | 4 | 5 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | Austin Reaves | 15 | 7 | 2 |
Additional Notes and Looking Ahead
The contest also featured a halftime ceremony honouring Pat Riley, as the Lakers unveiled a bronze statue of their celebrated former coach, who collected six championship rings in Los Angeles, including four titles across nine seasons at the helm during the Showtime era of the 1980s.
The Celtics previously overcame the Lakers 126-105 in Boston last December when both Doncic and James were absent. Looking forward, Boston continue their Western road trip at Phoenix on Tuesday, whilst the Lakers will return to their home court to play host to Orlando the same night.
