Celtics Vs Lakers: Pritchard’s 30 and Brown’s Steadiness Fuel 111-89 Win in Los Angeles

On Feb. 22, 2026, the Celtics beat the Lakers 111-89 at Crypto. com Arena, a performance that reinforced Boston’s contender credentials and highlighted Payton Pritchard’s resurgence as a sixth man. The result mattered for more than the ledger: a star-studded afternoon and a Pat Riley statue dedication set the stage, but Boston’s balance and defense decided the game.

Celtics Vs Lakers — final score and context

The final was 111-89 in favor of Boston at Crypto. com Arena in Los Angeles. The Celtics suffocated the Lakers defensively for the final three quarters and leaned on the scoring burst of Payton Pritchard and the steadiness of Jaylen Brown to turn a competitive atmosphere into a runaway win.

Payton Pritchard’s breakout bench night

Back as the full-time sixth man, Payton Pritchard scored 30 points in this game and surpassed 20 points for the sixth time in his last seven outings. The reigning Sixth Man of the Year has shifted from starter to the second unit after a roster change tied to the trade of Anfernee Simons; the move was designed to give the bench another ballhandler and playmaker and to better balance the rotation. Pritchard has said the starter-versus-sixth-man label does not matter to him; what matters is what he does with his minutes.

Pritchard’s impact included a buzzer-beating long 3-pointer to close the second quarter, part of an 8-3 run that stretched Boston’s lead to 60-50 at halftime. He finished one stretch with a stepback 3 over Austin Reaves in the fourth quarter, then turned and shouted toward announcer Reggie Miller; he did not reveal what he said. Earlier, he closed the game with a dagger 3-pointer and had his sixth 3-pointer of the afternoon as part of one of his best performances in recent memory.

Key plays and sequences that swung the game

• Final minute of the second quarter: Boston outscored Los Angeles 8-3. Pritchard attacked Austin Reaves in transition to create a three-for-two opportunity, Jaylen Brown stopped a Luka Dončić drive and that led to Pritchard finding Derrick White for a 3-pointer, and Brown later found Pritchard well behind the arc for the buzzer-beater after Pritchard created separation with a step-back on Dončić. Rui Hachimura briefly interrupted the momentum with his own triple during the stretch.
• Mid-fourth quarter: Pritchard drained a stepback 3 over Austin Reaves and then directed his chatter to Reggie Miller; he earlier flexed and pointed into the crowd at halftime after his buzzer-beater.
• Other moments: Pritchard switched directions multiple times before putting his shoulder into Jake LaRavia, spinning and fading for a 15-foot jumper. With five minutes left he caught a pass near the rim — unclear in the provided context how that possession concluded.
• Physicality noted: Pritchard may have given a little shove to Jarred Vanderbilt before a first-half triple in front of the Celtics’ bench.

Joe Mazzulla, team tone and the ‘brother-in-law game’

Coach Joe Mazzulla praised the recognition and execution that produced momentum, saying he thought it was "really good recognition by Payton, Derrick and JB. " Mazzulla cautioned that the team must not let the intensity be merely extrinsic: "If it's a short-term thing, if it's an extrinsic thing that gets you there, it's going to be very hard to turn that into an intrinsic one 48 hours from now. " He used the phrase "brother-in-law game" to describe how both teams started politely before Boston shifted to a higher level of intensity.

Mazzulla also noted the challenge of sustaining this level when the Celtics travel to face Phoenix at Mortgage Matchup Center on Tuesday, where Phoenix will be without Devin Booker; he urged the team to find a way to replicate the performance away from home.

Atmosphere, Pat Riley and Brooklyn-to-LA narrative

The afternoon was theatrical: a Pat Riley statue dedication preceded the game and brought former Lakers figures and supporters to the arena. Riley, described as a longtime Celtics nemesis and an 80-year-old who now serves as the president of another franchise, implored the Lakers to "kick some Boston [expletive]" in his remarks. LeBron James and Luka Dončić were noted as being motivated by the celebration around Riley; the Lakers were described as fully healthy for the matchup.

Three nights earlier the Celtics had dismantled the Warriors, though Stephen Curry did not play in that earlier game. The Los Angeles outing reinforced the argument that Boston’s recent dominance over top opponents should silence doubts about their legitimacy as title contenders.

What this means next

The Celtics leave Los Angeles with a convincing 111-89 victory that showcased a balanced rotation, a high-impact sixth man in Payton Pritchard and a steady presence in Jaylen Brown. The challenge Mazzulla flagged is immediate: preserve this level of play on the road against Phoenix and convert extrinsic spikes of energy into consistent, intrinsic performance.