Lakers Vs Celtics: Celtics’ sweep leaves Los Angeles scrambling after 111-89 loss

Who feels the immediate damage from this lakers vs celtics meeting? Los Angeles does — at least in the short term. The Celtics’ 111-89 victory on 22 Feb, 2026 in Los Angeles handed Boston a season sweep, tightened their push in the Eastern Conference and left the Lakers dealing with injuries, technical fouls and a rare off-night at home.

Lakers Vs Celtics impact: Boston’s momentum and how L. A. is affected

Boston’s win is more than one box score: it extended the Celtics to three straight victories and eight wins in nine games, narrowing the gap on Detroit at the top of the Eastern Conference standings. For the Lakers, the immediate effects are tangible — a second-lowest scoring night of the season, mounting frustration on the bench, and a backup center lost to injury before halftime. Here’s the part that matters: the loss underlines a stretch where Los Angeles has recently dropped home games to teams now seen as probable title contenders.

Game details and decisive moments

The Celtics controlled the second half, with Jaylen Brown and Payton Pritchard combining for 19 second-half points apiece. Pritchard finished with 30 points, six 3-pointers and eight assists; Brown had 32 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Pritchard's step-back 3 with 3: 24 remaining effectively sealed the 22-point margin and prompted the Lakers to empty their bench amid scattered boos.

Standout numbers and milestones

• Final score: Celtics 111, Lakers 89 (22 Feb, 2026).
• Jaylen Brown: 32 points, eight rebounds, seven assists.
• Payton Pritchard: 30 points, six 3-pointers, eight assists.
• Luka Doncic: 25 points for the Lakers.
• Austin Reaves: 15 points.
• LeBron James: 20 points and the 43, 000th point of his career; he also played his 1, 600th regular-season game — joining Robert Parish (1, 611) as the only players to reach that mark.

Injuries, technicals and the halftime tribute

Los Angeles suffered a pre-halftime blow when backup center Jaxson Hayes exited with an ankle injury. Tensions flared later: the Lakers were whistled for three technical fouls after a sequence of questionable calls, and repeatedly lost their composure. The night also featured a halftime ceremony honoring Pat Riley, after the team unveiled a bronze statue of the former coach outside the downtown arena. Riley’s record in Los Angeles includes six championship rings across two decades, with nine seasons and four titles as the head coach of the 1980s Showtime Lakers.

Short timeline and precedent

• December (last season): Celtics beat Lakers 126-105 in Boston when Doncic and James were out.
• 22 Feb, 2026: Celtics win 111-89 in Los Angeles, completing the season sweep.
• This season: Doncic, James and Reaves have shared the floor together only 12 times; the Lakers were largely back to full health before Hayes’s ankle issue.

It’s easy to overlook, but the combined history of the franchises — 35 NBA titles — framed the night as more than a regular loss or win.

Quick Q&A about the game

Did Boston dominate offensively or was it a Lakers collapse? Boston built and sustained a second-half lead, with Brown and Pritchard carrying the offense; Los Angeles produced its second-lowest point total of the season and struggled to recover.

How big is the margin in context? The 22-point difference reinforced Boston’s control and completed a season sweep of the rivalry.

What changed inside the game? A key injury (Hayes’s ankle before halftime) and three technical fouls for the Lakers coincided with Boston closing out the win.

The real question now is whether Los Angeles corrects course quickly — or if this loss becomes a pattern against top-tier opponents. What's easy to miss is how much Boston's depth influenced the closing minutes; those step-back shots and bench control mattered when the margin grew.

If you’re wondering why this keeps coming up: the Celtics’ recent run (three straight, eight of nine) is the clearest signal that their standing in the conference is shifting and that the Lakers will need answers on health, discipline and late-game offense.