Lakers Get Dismantled at Home Against Their Top Rival the Boston Celtics
The Celtics’ dominant 111-89 victory over the Lakers on February 22, 2026, served as a statement, underscoring the current gap between these two legendary rivals. It was more than just another loss for Los Angeles; it was a difficult night at Crypto.com Arena, leaving home fans unsettled on what was meant to be a celebratory Pat Riley Day. The Lakers were unable to seek redemption against the Celtics defensive wall. While Jaylen Brown led with 32 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists, the standout of the night was Payton Pritchard. Continuing his pursuit of the Sixth Man of the Year award, Pritchard poured in 30 points with six three-pointers, at times outscoring the Lakers’ bench by himself. Once again, Boston’s depth proved to be its greatest strength.
Lebron Hits 43,000 Points in His Career
LeBron James continues to defy time, officially surpassing 43,000 career points during the third quarter. The milestone, however, was overshadowed by the Lakers’ struggles, as they shot just 39.1% from the field, and James finished with a modest 20 points, unable to ignite a late comeback. The historic basket came midway through the third quarter. Unlike his record-breaking 38,388th point, which came on a signature fadeaway, his 43,000th was a hard-nosed driving layup through traffic. The game briefly paused for a standing ovation and a video tribute on the scoreboard. With the Lakers trailing by double digits, James acknowledged the crowd before quickly returning to play. Reaching 43,000 points in his 1,600th career game highlights his remarkable durability, as he now sits just 11 games shy of tying Robert Parish’s record for most NBA appearances. He’s now nearly 5,000 points ahead of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the previous recordholder. The night carried added significance as the Lakers unveiled a statue honoring Pat Riley earlier that afternoon, with NBA legends such as Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Dwyane Wade in attendance.
The Luka-Lebron Connection Is Still a Work in Progress
Despite Luka Dončić scoring 25 points and LeBron’s continued star presence, their on-court chemistry appeared uneven. Boston’s disciplined defense, anchored by Derrick White, forced the Lakers into a predictable pattern of isolation possessions. The 89-point output marked Los Angeles’ second-lowest scoring performance of the season, reinforcing that talent alone cannot overcome the Celtics’ defensive cohesion. In a notable subplot, Marcus Smart, once the emotional leader of Boston, struggled mightily against his former team. Now wearing Lakers colors, Smart shot zero-for-seven and failed to score. His performance underscored both the Celtics’ defensive intensity and the continued evolution of their system since his departure. With this win, Boston completed a season sweep of Los Angeles. The Celtics now appear poised as frontrunners in the Eastern Conference, while the Lakers face pressing questions about their supporting cast if they hope to maximize the Luka–LeBron partnership.
