Celtics Vs Lakers — Boston routs Lakers 111-89 after Pat Riley statue unveiling

Emerson Raymont

Published: February 22, 2026 11:34 PM ET

Celtics Vs Lakers — Boston routs Lakers 111-89 after Pat Riley statue unveiling

In the celtics vs lakers matchup on Feb. 22, 2026, the Celtics closed with a big fourth quarter to turn a close game into a 111-89 blowout, hours after the Lakers unveiled Pat Riley’s statue.

Celtics Vs Lakers fourth-quarter surge

A big fourth quarter by the Celtics produced the margin that sealed the 111-89 final. After a back-and-forth first three quarters, Los Angeles put up a poor display in the fourth, briefly cutting the deficit to single digits before Boston pulled away. The final frame began with Austin Reaves, LeBron James and Rui Hachimura combining for a quick six points for Los Angeles, but Payton Pritchard answered with six straight to stifle the comeback attempt.

Pritchard torches LA from deep

The celtics vs lakers game tilted decisively behind Payton Pritchard’s shooting. Pritchard was shooting 71% from behind the arc during the night, knocked down two more triples in the third before finally missing his eighth attempt, and finished a first-half stretch where he scored five points with three coming at the buzzer. At the 6: 53 mark of the third, the Celtics led by 11; going into the fourth, Los Angeles trailed by 13.

Turnovers and technicals swung the second quarter

Boston’s defense forced seven turnovers and turned a 7-0 run — a sequence that included technical fouls assessed to Austin Reaves and Marcus Smart — into momentum. Payton Pritchard drained a 3-pointer as the shot clock expired early in the second, and a Deandre Ayton hook shot briefly jump-started the Lakers before the run. The Celtics closed the half with Pritchard’s buzzer production, and the purple and gold went to the locker room down by 10; Jaxson Hayes was ruled out for the rest of the game with a right ankle injury.

Early paint, misses and momentum shifts

LeBron James opened the game with a personal 4-0 run, but Boston started cold, missing its first three shot attempts before Baylor Scheierman hit a 3-pointer to jump-start the Celtics. Luka Dončić scored six early for Los Angeles, and Sam Hauser knocked down two 3-pointers to tie the game and force a Lakers timeout. Out of the break, a turnover by Los Angeles led to a Jaylen Brown dunk; Jaxson Hayes countered with a dunk of his own. Trips from Luka Dončić and Luke Kennard briefly put the Lakers up by four, but Boston reclaimed the lead, and Austin Reaves’ three made free throws tied the game at the end of the first quarter.

Lakers' shooting, depth and final notes

Los Angeles finished the night shooting 39. 1% from the field and 30% from three, with only LeBron James and Luka Dončić reaching double figures; Austin Reaves was the next closest with nine points. Emotions ran high as officiating frustrated the Lakers and sent more free throws to Boston, and the offensive struggles made it difficult for Los Angeles to string together a meaningful run.