Lakers vs. Celtics: Upcoming Series Info & Rivalry History

When Do the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics Play Next?

Los Angeles Lakers tickets and Boston Celtics tickets can be found on their respective team pages. Upcoming game information can be found below.

Are the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics Rivals?

Yes. The Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics have the most fierce, and longest rivalry in the National Basketball Association. Because they play in different conferences, they have a cross-conference rivalry. This results in fewer competitions this year, and all postseason matchups are saved for the Finals, which they have played 12 times against one-another. 

Who are the Los Angeles Lakers’ Biggest Rivals?

The Los Angeles Lakers’ main rivals are the Boston Celtics. However, they also have a handful of rivalries in the Western Conference. The Lakers’ biggest rivals in the west are the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Clippers and the Golden State Warriors. 

Who are the Boston Celtics’ Biggest Rivals?

The Boston Celtics’ biggest rival are the Los Angeles Lakers. The Celtics also have several rivals within the Eastern Conference. Other Boston Celtics rivalries include the Philadelphia 76ers, the New York Knicks, the Brooklyn Nets, and the Miami Heat.

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics Series History

Arguably one of the hallmark rivalry in the National Basketball Association, the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers matchups date back to 1948. The two teams have faced off a record 12 times in the NBA Finals. Additionally, they are both tied atop the NBA record book for the most championships, each with 17 title banners hanging in the rafters.

The two squads met for the first time on the court in 1948, in a game that the Celtics won 77–55. Entering the 2022 season, the Lakers and Celtics have squared off 370 times, with the Celtics holding both the regular season and postseason edge. The Celtics are the only team in the NBA with a positive winning percentage against the Lakers. Entering and during the 1960s, the Celtics went on a dominant run in the NBA, winning 11 consecutive titles behind the greatness of Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, Tom Heinsohn, Sam Jones, and K.C. Jones. Coached by Red Auerbach, the Celtics beat the Lakers seven times during that run.

The rivalry kicked back into high-gear (and maybe even peaked) during the 1980s when the Boston Celtics drafted Larry Bird and the Los Angeles Lakers drafted Earvin “Magic” Johnson in the same year. In the 1980s, the Lakers’ team were coined “Showtime” due to their fast-paced, high-octane offense and flashy play both on and off the court. The Lakers were powered by hall-of-famers like Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, and were coached by Pat Riley on the way to five championships in 12 seasons. The Showtime Lakers faced off against the Celtics three times in the Finals during their run, where they won the head-to-head 2–1. However, the Celtics had a dominant team during that run as well. With hall-of-famers like Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, and coached by K.C Jones, the Celtics claimed three titles during the 1980s (1981, 1984 and 1986).

Most recently, the Lakers and Celtics met in the NBA Finals during the late-2000s when both franchises had championship aspirations and rosters. The Lakers were paced by the greatness of Kobe Bryant and head coach Phil Jackson, with key role players like Derek Fisher and Pau Gasol making signature plays. Meanwhile, the Celtics had the “big 3” of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, and were coached by Doc Rivers. 

Where Do the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics Play?

The Los Angeles Lakers play at Crypto.com Arena, formerly STAPLES Center. Crypto.com bought the naming rights to the arena in 2021 for $35 million a year.

Read more: Step Inside Crypto.com Arena

Meanwhile, the Boston Celtics play their home games at TD Garden, commonly referred to as the FleetCenter and the new Boston Garden. TD Garden replaced the original Boston Garden in 1995 and is also the home to the Boston Bruins®.

Read more: Step Inside TD Garden, Things to Do Near TD Garden