Game #56 – February 22, 2026
(34-22)	89	-	111	(37-19)
Crypto.com Arena – Los Angeles, CA

Team Leaders Lakers

Points – Doncic 25, L. James 20, Reaves 15

Rebounds – Ayton 7, Reaves 7, 2 Players Tied With 5

Assists – L. James 5, Smart 4, Doncic 3

Team Leaders Celtics

Points – Brown 32, Pritchard 30, White 12

Rebounds – Queta 12, Brown 8, Vucevic 8

Assists – Pritchard 8, White 8, Brown 7

Lakers vs. Celtics – Box Score 02.22.26

Game #22 – December 5, 2025
(16-6)	105	-	126	(14-9)
TD Garden – Boston, MA

Team Leaders Lakers

Points – Reaves 36, Vincent 18, 2 Players Tied With 13

Rebounds – Ayton 10, Hachimura 7, Hayes 4

Assists – Reaves 8, Timme 3, 4 Players Tied With 1

Team Leaders Celtics

Points – Brown 30, White 19, Walsh 17

Rebounds – Brown 8, Queta 6, White 5

Assists – Brown 8, Pritchard 6, White 6

Lakers @ Celtics – Box Score 12.05.25

Game #21 – January 30, 2021
(15-6)	96	-	95	(10-8)
TD Garden – Boston, MA

Team Leaders Lakers

Points – Davis 27, James 21, Harrell 16

Rebounds – Davis 14, James 7, Kuzma 6

Assists – James 7, Schroder 7, 2 Players Tied With 2

Team Leaders Celtics

Points – Tatum 30, Brown 28, Theis 14

Rebounds – Tatum 9, Theis 7, Williams 7

Assists – Smart 7, Walker 4, 2 Players Tied With 3

Lakers @ Celtics – Box Score 01.30.21

Game #55 – February 23, 2020
	114	-	112
Staples Center – Los Angeles, CA

Team Leaders Lakers

Points – Davis 32, James 29, Kuzma 16

Rebounds – Davis 13, James 8, McGee 8

Assists – James 9, Rondo 5, Davis 3

Team Leaders Celtics

Points – Tatum 41, Brown 20, Theis 16

Rebounds – Theis 9, Hayward 8, Smart 7

Assists – Hayward 9, Smart 3, Wanamaker 3

Lakers vs. Celtics – Box Score 02.23.20

Game #20 – December 5, 2014
	96	-	113
TD Garden – Boston, MA

Team Leaders Lakers

Points – Bryant 22, Young 16, Lin 14

Rebounds – Davis 9, Boozer 7, Ellington 5

Assists – Bryant 3, Ellington 3, Price 3

Team Leaders Celtics

Points – Zeller 24, Green 19, Sullinger 17

Rebounds – Zeller 14, Sullinger 13, Rondo 8

Assists – Rondo 16, Turner 3, 3 Players with 2

Lakers @ Celtics – Box Score 12.05.14

Let’s review some NBA history.

In 2004, Karl Malone was the starting power forward for the Lakers, and he was injured prior to the finals match-up against the Detroit Pistons.  Now as the Lakers lost in 5 games, I don’t believe they necessarily would have won had the Mailman been uninjured.   I think the Lakers were highly dysfunctional that season, Shaq’s last as a Laker.    But this is another example of a team losing with one started being hobbled. When the Lakers lost to the Pistons 15 years earlier in 1989, they had entered the finals undefeated before being swept.  Now when your starting backcourt goes down with hamstring injuries, that’s gonna affect team play.  And when one of those players is Magic Johnson – well, nuff said.   But just as you can have injuries (or calls) work against you, sometimes it’s the other team that has misfortune.  Such as the Celtics in 2010 or the Pistons in 1988, when Isaiah Thomas played on a sprained ankle.  Even a couple of years earlier than that, I seem to remember Larry Bird suffering from some back problems.

So my point is that it balances out – some seasons your team is healthy and other years it’s the opposing team that’s in better shape.

It all has to do with how you respond to adversity.  To the 2010 Celtics credit, they managed to build a 13 point lead on the road in game 7.  They just couldn’t close it out.   Thirty years ago, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, starting center for the Lakers,  sprained his ankle in game 5.   The Lakers next game was in Philadelphia, but the team didn’t get down.  Magic Johnson came onto center court, jumped as center, and played perhaps the greatest game of his career (OK, it was his greatest game).   Which is really how you always want you team to respond to a teammates injury, by pulling together and playing a little harder.  I’m just surprised Doc doesn’t blame the refs, the commissioner or the weather for losing as well.  What’s up, Doc?  I’ll tell you what’s up.  My blood pressure, from listening to you whine and make excuses about not winning.  Here’s a challenge for you – make it to the finals this year and show everyone the Celtics weren’t just another one and done team.

Kobe also tied Byron Scott for fifth place on the all-time playoff games list at 150. Should the Lakers extend this series to seven games, Kobe would tie Jerry West for fourth place at 153. Kobe is also within two field goals of passing Shaquille O’Neal for fourth place on the all-time list. Shaq sits at 1,309, Kobe at 1,308.

Not that anyone wants to remember this seeing as how the game ended, but the Lakers did have the largest first quarter lead of any game in Finals history, at 21 points. They led after one quarter 35-14