Lakers (16–5) at Celtics (13–9) | Game 22 of 82
Where to Watch and What Time
📅 Date: Friday, Dec. 5
⏰ Tip-off: 4:00 p.m. PST
📍 Location: TD Garden — Boston
📺 TV: Prime Video, Spectrum SportsNet
📻 Radio: ESPN LA 710 / 1330 KWKW
The Lakers are coming off a thrilling 123-120 win in Toronto on Thursday that saw Rui Hachimura sink a game-winning corner 3 as time expired, Austin Reaves drop 44 points and LeBron James score his lowest points in a game (eight) for the first time since 2007, which broke a scoring streak that stands at 1,297 games.
Los Angeles is set for the Celtics in Boston for the first time this season. The Lakers will continue to be without the NBA’s top scorer, Luka Dončić, due to personal reasons, and now James, as both teams come in on the second night of back-to-back games.
The Lakers, who still own the second-best record in the West at 16-5, have a 9-2 record on the road, while the Celtics sit fifth in the East at 13-9 and 7-4 at home.
The Lakers split 1-1 last season with the Celtics and this will be the 303rd time these two historic franchises face each other, a rivalry that dates back to 1948 when the Lakers were in Minneapolis.
The Celtics are coming off a 45-point blowout win over the Wizards on Thursday behind a 30-point night from Derrick White and seven total Celtics in double figures. Boston is riding a three-game win streak and winners of five of their last six games.
With Jayson Tatum out indefinitely this season after rupturing his Achilles tendon during Game 4 of last season’s Eastern Conference semifinals, Jaylen Brown has taken the No. 1 option reins for Boston.
In which he’s been the fifth-highest scorer in the NBA, averaging 29 points a game. Brown has led the Celtics in scoring over 40 points in two of the Celtics’ last four games.
Payton Pritchard and White have also caused headaches for teams, with both averaging 17 points. Newcomer Anfernee Simons has been Boston’s sixth man of the season, averaging 13.7 points on 40.7% shooting from 3.
Opponents’ Ranks Among the NBA
lowest turnover team in the NBA (11.6 per contest)
No. 1 team in the NBA in screen assists (9.8) and screen assists points (23.9)
3rd-highest-rated offensive team in the NBA (121.4)
3rd in 2nd chance points (17.9 per contest) — they’ve scored the most among all teams this season
4th in 3s made a game (15.4)
5th in the NBA in plus/minus (+6)
The Celtics’ motto to live and die by the three has resulted in them scoring the second-lowest total points in the paint in the NBA this season.
28th in points in the paint (43.6 per contest)
27th in assists per game (24.4 per contest)
28th in opponent’s 2nd chance points allowed—allowing the third most per game at 17.3
LeBron James was first listed as doubtful and then downgraded to out on Friday afternoon for the second night of back-to-backs.
The #Lakers have downgraded LeBron James to OUT for tonight in Boston.
LA will be without two of their top 3 players against the Celtics who will likely have Jaylen Brown back after missing Thursday’s 45-point blowout win over Washington. https://t.co/OPo01YsoRE
— Carlos Yakimowich (@CarlosYakJr) December 5, 2025
Luka Dončić (personal reasons): Out
LeBron James (right sciatica and left foot joint arthritis): Out
Marcus Smart (lower back management): Out
Brown did not play on Thursday in Boston’s matchup against the Wizards because of an illness, which means he’ll be (very likely) fresh and ready to go, coincidentally, against the Lakers as both teams prepare for their second night of a back-to-back.
So the Celtics will most likely have a clean slate on their injury front.
The Lakers will rock their gold threads on the road, while the Celtics will wear their white Association Edition unis.
The Lakers will end their three-game road trip on Sunday in Philadelphia and then come back to L.A. for their quarterfinal NBA Cup game against the Spurs on Dec. 10.