The schedule is out, the tickets are mostly gone, and the trash talk is already simmering. If you’re asking when do the lakers play the celtics, you aren't just looking for a date on a calendar. You’re looking for the next chapter in a blood feud that spans nearly 80 years.
Honestly, it’s the only game that makes a Tuesday in February feel like a Game 7 in June.
Mark Your Calendar: The Big Dates
The NBA doesn't make us wait too long to see these two giants collide. For the 2025-26 season, the league has served up two primary dates that every fan needs to circle in red ink.
- First Meeting: December 5, 2025. This one happened recently at TD Garden, and let's just say it was a statement. The Celtics cruised to a 126-105 victory.
- The Rematch: February 22, 2026. This is the one you're likely hunting for now. It’s a Sunday afternoon showdown at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
The February game is scheduled for a 3:30 PM PST tip-off. If you’re on the East Coast, that’s a 6:30 PM start. It’s being broadcast on NBC/Peacock, which is a bit of a shift if you’re used to the old ESPN or TNT rotations.
What Happened Last Time?
The December game was... complicated. If you're a Lakers fan, it was a "flush the tape" kind of night. Los Angeles was shorthanded, missing both LeBron James (sciatica/rest) and Luka Doncic (personal reasons).
📖 Related: MSG Basketball Seating Chart: Why Most People Pick the Wrong Seats
Yeah, you read that right. In this 2026 reality, Luka is wearing the Purple and Gold.
Even without the superstars, Austin Reaves tried to carry the load with 36 points. But the Celtics were just too deep. Jaylen Brown went off for 30, and Boston hit a season-high 24 three-pointers. It felt like a track meet where one team had lead weights in their shoes.
Why the 2026 Matchup is Different
The Lakers and Celtics are currently tied in a historical arms race. For a long time, they were neck-and-neck at 17 championships apiece. Then Boston grabbed number 18 in 2024.
Now, the Lakers are desperate to catch up.
Every time they meet, the "18 vs 17" narrative hangs over the court like a heavy fog. It’s not just a regular-season game; it’s a battle for the soul of the NBA’s record books. Plus, seeing Bronny James get minutes in TD Garden—which he did in December—adds a weird, surreal layer to the rivalry that Jerry West and Bill Russell could never have imagined.
The Luka Factor
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. Luka Doncic joining the Lakers has fundamentally changed the geometry of this rivalry.
For years, it was Jayson Tatum vs. LeBron. Now, it’s a battle of the young kings. Tatum and Jaylen Brown have the chemistry of a decade spent together. Luka and LeBron are trying to blend old-school IQ with new-school dominance.
When the Lakers host the Celtics in February, everyone expects both Luka and LeBron to be active. If they are, that $256 "get-in" price on SeatGeek is going to look like a bargain by tip-off.
Practical Steps for Fans
If you’re planning to watch or attend the February 22 game, here is what you need to do:
- Check the Injury Report Early: LeBron’s "sciatica" and "left foot joint arthritis" are real factors now. He’s 41. Don’t buy a flight to LA without knowing he’s actually playing.
- Streaming Prep: Since this is an NBC/Peacock game, make sure your subscription is active. Don't be that person scrambling to find a login three minutes after tip-off.
- Secondary Market Timing: If you don't have tickets yet, wait for the "dip" about 48 hours before the game—unless Luka or LeBron are officially ruled "probable," then prices will spike.
- Watch the Standings: By late February, the playoff seeding will be tight. This game could be the difference between a top-four seed and the play-in tournament for a Lakers team that has been streaky this season.
The rivalry is alive and well. Whether you're bleeding green or rocking the purple, February 22 is the day the world stops to watch the two most storied franchises in sports go at it again.