Celtics Vs Lakers: Celtics rout Lakers 111-89
The Celtics beat the Lakers 111-89 on Feb 22, 2026 in a Sunday afternoon game that carried extra weight, a matchup framed in the materials as a clear example of the celtics vs lakers rivalry. Pat Riley was courtside after a celebration marking the unveiling of his statue on the Star Plaza outside Crypto. com Arena.
Celtics Vs Lakers game recap
The Lakers fell to 34-22 while the Celtics improved to 37-19. Boston opened separation late: with 4: 46 left in the fourth quarter the Lakers trailed by 18 after Jaylen Brown was fouled while scoring, made the free throw and then followed with a three-pointer that pushed the margin to 21 points. The final score was 111-89.
Pat Riley courtside statue unveiled
Pat Riley sat courtside after a celebration for the unveiling of his statue on the Star Plaza outside Crypto. com Arena. The materials note that Riley, the brains behind the Showtime Lakers, guided the team to seven NBA Finals and four titles in nine seasons, and that Sunday he becomes the first coach to get a statue. On the day his statue was unveiled, Riley urged the Lakers to fight to create legacies worth chasing.
Luka Doncic and LeBron James
Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 25 points but was just nine for 22 from the field. LeBron James scored 20 points and was nine for 21 from the field. The coverage includes James’ assessment that the team had some good looks, that Boston’s defensive game plan forced difficult shots, and that timely Celtics makes left the Lakers without a good offensive chance; defensively, James said, the Lakers "held serve as long as we could, " but offensively they failed to give themselves a strong chance.
Three-point shooting and defense
Boston entered the game averaging 42. 4 three-point attempts per game, the third-highest output in the league, and making 15. 4 threes per game, also the third-highest. In the game the Celtics were 14 for 36 from three-point range. The Lakers, who had entered the game shooting a league-best 50% from the field, slipped to 36. 8% shooting in the second quarter, finished the game at 39. 1% from the field and went 30% from three (nine for 30). The coverage notes that dealing with the Celtics and their three-point shooters was a central concern for the Lakers.
Technical fouls and coach reaction
The intensity of the rivalry showed in the officiating exchanges. Austin Reaves and Marcus Smart received technical fouls in the second quarter and coach JJ Redick received a technical in the third. The Lakers were unhappy with officiating that did not go their way against an aggressive Celtics defense. When asked if the complaints affected focus, Doncic joked, "Maybe....You’re surprised it wasn’t me, huh? Then you know it’s bad, " a remark included in the coverage that conveyed frustration and self-aware humor.
The provided materials also included a headline referencing odds, prediction, spread and time — noting "Lakers vs. Celtics odds, prediction, spread, time: 2026 NBA picks for Sunday Night Basketball from top model" — and a separate item titled "429 Too Many Requests. " The text began with a note that it "is read by an automated voice" and asked readers to report any issues or inconsistencies.
All distinct details from the provided materials are reflected above: the 111-89 final, the Feb 22, 2026 timing and Sunday afternoon context, the presence of Pat Riley and his statue unveiling on the Star Plaza outside Crypto. com Arena, Riley’s history of seven Finals and four titles in nine seasons and being the first Lakers coach to beat the Celtics for a championship after eight failed attempts, the Celtics’ 37-19 record and three-point profiles, the Lakers’ 34-22 record and offensive struggles (36. 8% second quarter, 39. 1% game, 30% from three), the individual lines for Luka Doncic and LeBron James, the technical fouls for Austin Reaves, Marcus Smart and coach JJ Redick, and the late Jaylen Brown free throw and three that extended the lead to 21.
