Everything you need to know for the Boston Celtics' road game against the Los Angeles Lakers on February 22, 2026: where to watch, listen, stream info, TV channel, and what happened last game.
Jaylen Brown’s relationship with Los Angeles has been anything but quiet lately, and as the Boston Celtics (36-19) get set to face the Los Angeles Lakers (34-21) on national television Sunday night, the backdrop feels impossible to ignore.
From a 50-point explosion against the Los Angeles Clippers (27-29) in January to an All-Star Weekend that took an unexpected turn, the last few trips west have carried a little extra weight for Brown.
His panel event for his 741 brand being shut down by Beverly Hills police, and the fallout that followed, added another layer to what was already a busy stretch, even with an apology eventually coming from city officials.
Brown hasn’t exactly hidden how the situation sat with him.
“You guys tell me how I should feel about that because it didn't seem like anybody else had a problem in Beverly Hills but me,” Brown said of the events that transpired in L.A. when speaking to the media late last week.
If Thursday night in San Francisco was any indication, he’s channeling that energy on the floor.
Boston opened its road swing with a convincing win over the Golden State Warriors, powered by Brown’s triple-double performance alongside contributions from Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser with Steph Curry sidelined.
“I wasn't even thinking about the game,” Brown said after the victory. “I was pissed. I was still pissed.”
The Lakers, meanwhile, come in riding momentum behind Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and LeBron James. The Lakers are playing well just in time for a run in the postseason, and they look to keep that train rolling with their historic rival rolling into Hollywood on a heater.
This all sets the stage for a matchup that feels like more than just another game - especially for Brown.
How to Watch Celtics vs. Lakers
Boston Celtics at Los Angeles Lakers Information
Game Date: February 22, 2026
Game Time: 6:30 PM ET
TV Channel: NBC & Peacock (National)
Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub (Boston) & ESPN Los Angeles (Los Angeles)
Location: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Live Stream: Peacock, Fubo & NBA League Pass
Jan 20, 2020; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) drives to the basket past Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) during the first half at TD Garden. (Bob DeChiara/Imagn Images)Missed any of Thursday night’s win at Golden State? Here’s everything you need to know:
1. Jaylen Brown Continues All-Around Tear:
If the last few weeks have reinforced anything, it’s that Jaylen Brown is playing some of the most complete basketball of his career.
Thursday might’ve been the best example yet.
Brown finished with 23 points, 15 rebounds, and 13 assists, recording the triple-double before the end of the third quarter.
It’s the kind of stat line that matches what we’ve been talking about lately: his evolution into a true do-everything engine without needing Jayson Tatum as his running mate.
When Brown is controlling the glass and facilitating like that, Boston’s offense reaches a different level.
2. Second Quarter Showed Boston’s Best:
The game flipped for good during a dominant 38-19 second quarter that felt like a clinic on both ends.
Ball movement was crisp, the defense swarmed, and the shot-making followed.
Payton Pritchard was the spark plug, pouring in 27 points off the bench and helping push the pace during a stretch where Boston looked faster and more connected than Golden State at every turn.
It was the kind of depth showing that continues to separate the Celtics from most contenders.
3. Familiar Faces, Awkward Night:
There was an added storyline with Kristaps Porzingis making his Warriors debut against his former team, and Boston wasted no time making him work defensively.
The Celtics attacked early in his minutes, using pace and spacing to fuel a decisive run that helped break the game open.
On the other side, Al Horford never quite found a rhythm, finishing just 2 of 10 from the field.
Still, the bigger picture was Boston dictating matchups and tempo most of the night.
4. The Gap:
Golden State was without Steph Curry, which always changes the equation, but the overall feel was of two teams in very different places.
Boston looked like a group with clarity and depth. The Warriors struggled to generate consistent offense outside of short bursts.
For the Celtics, now winners of seven of their last eight, the performance felt less like a statement and more like confirmation.
Even after a whirlwind couple of weeks off the court, they picked up right where they left off - looking every bit like a team with its sights set on June.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION:
Remember to join our CELTICS on ROUNDTABLE community, which is FREE! You can post your own thoughts, in text or video form, and you can engage with our Roundtable staff, as well as other Celtics fans. If prompted to download the Roundtable APP, that's free too!
Tom Carroll is a contributor for Roundtable, with boots-on-the-ground coverage of all things Boston sports. He's a senior digital content producer for WEEI.com, and a native of Lincoln, RI.