How to watch Lakers at Celtics, the NBA's winningest franchises and 2025 title contenders
Luka Dončić, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers are sizzling off an eight-game winning streak. The Boston Celtics, top-five on both ends of the floor, are looking like worthy title defenders. Our weekend's schedule crests with the NBA's two house families.
The Celtics and the Lake Show have enough cumulative banners to fill an arena or make the world's coolest and most expensive blanket fort. Their antagonism traces league history and informs the sport's sacredness.
Together, LA and Boston have won 45 percent of all the Larry O'Brien Trophies. Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, Red Auerbach and those dynastic early Celtics vanquished Jerry West's Lakers in seven different Finals from 1959-69. Three of those series reached a Game 7. The two sides went at it again throughout the 1980s, the rivalry that singularly changed basketball. Larry Bird struck first in 1984's seven-game classic, then Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the Showtime Lakers won in 1985 and '87. Boston's 'big three' wrestled the title away in 2008. Kobe Bryant got his fifth at the Celtics' expense (and because he passed the ball to Ron Artest).
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The Luka Dončić trade gives this installment an instant punch and even more staying power. He just turned 26 years old. Jayson Tatum is 27, and Jaylen Brown is 28. This could be the start of something big. Of course, LeBron James carries his own mythology onto the parquet court. His 2012 Game 6 Eastern Conference Finals heroism is always worth a rewatch.
Both teams are playing so well, especially on the defensive end. The Lakers are the current obsession of the sporting universe, and the Celtics are the NBA's reigning champions. Let the pleasantries begin.
The Athletic's Jovan Buha on LA's Thursday night knockdown of the New York Knicks:
'JJ Redick identified three points of emphasis pregame: transition defense, defensive rebounding and containing Jalen Brunson. The Lakers went 0-for-3, allowing 17 fast-break points, 14 offensive rebounds and Brunson to eviscerate them for 39 points and 10 assists.
'But as they've done numerous times over the past two months, the Lakers found a way to win, beating New York 113-109 in overtime to improve to 40-21 and maintain their No. 2 spot in the Western Conference. They've won eight straight games and 20 of 24, the best record in the NBA over that stretch.
''Our guys, in what felt like a playoff game at times, really just gutted out a win,' Redick said.'
Jay King on Boston making history while beating the Portland Trail Blazers:
'After enjoying a water bath from his teammates on the TD Garden court Wednesday night, Payton Pritchard heard an M-V-P chant as he walked through the Celtics tunnel. Pritchard had earned the cheers with a career-high 43 points but recognized he didn't make history by himself. So, before turning right to head for the Boston locker room, he paused briefly to embrace teammate Derrick White. With headphones on, White was still fulfilling part of his media duties with the Celtics radio broadcast. That didn't stop Pritchard from congratulating the other star of the night. 'Good job,' Pritchard said. 'Way to hoop.' Consider that the understatement of the night.
'The Celtics have had Bob Cousy and Bill Russell. Sam Jones and Tommy Heinsohn. John Havlicek and Dave Cowens. Larry Bird and Kevin McHale. Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Scores of Hall of Famers have walked through Boston, but Pritchard and White became the first Celtics teammates to score 40 points in the same game Wednesday night while carrying their team past the Trail Blazers 128-118.'
Starting five of players to wear both jerseys (minimum 50 games with each franchise):
Don Chaney, Avery Bradley and Brandon Bass would be with the bench mob. Shaquille O'Neal didn't hit the games minimum in the green and white. Same for Isaiah Thomas in the purple and gold.
(Photo of LeBron James and Jayson Tatum: Harry How / Getty Images)
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