The rivalry is basically the DNA of the NBA. When you look at a lakers celtics box score, you aren't just looking at numbers. You're looking at decades of hatred, banners, and usually, a whole lot of physical basketball.
But their most recent clash on December 5, 2025, felt different. Honestly, it was a bit of a weird one.
The Boston Celtics walked away with a 126-105 blowout win at TD Garden. If you just saw the final score, you might think it was a routine night at the office for the C's. It wasn't. The Lakers were shorthanded in a way that made the "rivalry" feel more like a scrimmage for long stretches. No LeBron James. No Luka Doncic—who, yes, is a Laker now in this 2025-26 timeline.
Missing those two is like trying to win a drag race without an engine.
Breaking Down the Dec 5 Lakers Celtics Box Score
Boston came out like they had somewhere else to be. They dropped 39 points in the first quarter alone. When a team hangs nearly 40 in 12 minutes, the game is usually over before the popcorn gets cold. The Lakers looked stuck in mud. They only managed 17 points in that opening frame.
Jaylen Brown was the clear alpha. He finished with a massive line: 30 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists. He didn't just score; he dismantled the Lakers' perimeter defense. Without LeBron there to match that physicality, Brown basically had a layup line for most of the first half.
The Lone Bright Spot for LA
Austin Reaves. Seriously.
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If there was one reason for Lakers fans not to throw their remotes at the wall, it was Reaves. He finished with 36 points. He went 15-for-17 from the free-throw line, which tells you how hard he was working to keep LA in it. He also chipped in 8 assists.
The problem? He was basically playing 1-on-5.
Gabe Vincent had a decent night with 18 points, but the rest of the roster was just... there. Rui Hachimura had 13. Deandre Ayton, the new man in the middle for the Lakers, struggled immensely. He had 6 points and 10 rebounds but looked totally outmatched by Boston's versatility.
Why the Celtics Won So Easily
It came down to the three-point line. It's the modern NBA, so that's not a shocker. But the disparity was wild.
Boston hit a season-high 24 triples.
Derrick White was a huge part of that, hitting five 3-pointers on his way to 19 points. When the Celtics are moving the ball like that—they had 31 assists as a team—they're almost impossible to beat. They never trailed. Not once. They led by as many as 29 points in the second quarter.
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The Lakers did make a "fake comeback" in the third. They cut the lead to 15. You know how it goes—the bench guys get some energy, the home team gets a little lazy. But then the fourth quarter started, and Boston stepped on the gas again. The lead went right back up to 20, and that was that.
A Look at the Defensive Numbers
Boston’s defense is kinda terrifying when they're locked in. They held LA to 17 points in the first and 23 in the fourth.
- Total Rebounds: Boston 62, Lakers 44.
- Three-Point Percentage: Boston shot over 40% on high volume.
- Points in the Paint: Boston exploited the lack of a true rim protector while Ayton was roaming.
Jordan Walsh was a surprise factor for the Celtics too. He finished with 17 points off the bench. When your bench players are outscoring the opponent's starters, you're going to have a good night.
Historical Context: This Isn't the 80s
We love to talk about Magic and Bird or Kobe and KG. But the lakers celtics box score from January 23, 2025 (the previous meeting), told a different story. In that one, the Lakers actually blew out the Celtics 117-96. Anthony Davis had 24 points and 3 blocks.
It shows how much these teams fluctuate based on health.
In the December 2025 game, the Lakers were a shell of themselves. In the January 2025 game, they were the aggressors. It’s a pendulum. Currently, the Celtics seem to have the deeper, more cohesive roster, especially with the way Sam Hauser and Payton Pritchard provide spacing that the Lakers simply can't match right now.
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What to Watch for in the Next Matchup
The two teams meet again on February 22, 2026. This is the big one.
If LeBron and Doncic are healthy, the box score will look nothing like the December blowout. You have to look at the "Four Factors" of basketball: effective field goal percentage, turnovers, rebounding, and free throw rate.
- Rebounding: The Lakers have to stop getting bullied on the glass. Giving up 62 rebounds to Boston is embarrassing.
- Transition Defense: Boston had too many easy points in the last meeting.
- Bench Scoring: The Lakers' second unit needs to provide more than just "cardio."
To truly understand a lakers celtics box score, you have to look past the points. Look at the minutes played. In the last game, Boston was able to rest their starters early. That's a luxury you don't usually see in this rivalry.
If you're tracking the stats for betting or fantasy, pay close attention to the injury report about 48 hours before tip-off. These teams are older than they used to be (specifically the Lakers' core), and "Load Management" is a real thing even in a rivalry game.
Check the defensive rating (DRTG) for the Celtics' second unit. They are currently leading the league in defensive efficiency when their bench is on the floor. That is usually the "secret sauce" that determines if the Lakers can keep it close or if it becomes another 20-point blowout.