Brown and Payton Pritchard power Boston’s second-half surge in a 111-89 statement road win.
There are certain regular-season games that just feel a little bigger, even in February.
A Sunday showdown between the Boston Celtics (37-19) and Los Angeles Lakers (34-22) on a national stage usually qualifies, and Boston treated it like exactly that - delivering a statement 111-89 win at Crypto.com Arena that reinforced just how dangerous this group looks right now.
What started as a competitive first half quickly turned into a one-sided showcase of Boston’s depth, physicality, and shot-making once the third quarter rolled around.
The Celtics methodically stretched the lead, answered every small Lakers push, and never allowed the game to feel truly in doubt over the final 24 minutes.
At the center of it all was Jaylen Brown, who continues to play like a player fully comfortable carrying the offensive load.
Brown finished with 32 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists, setting the tone with his downhill pressure and controlled aggression.
Right alongside him was Payton Pritchard, whose 30 points and 8 assists off the bench flipped the game’s momentum and gave Boston a consistent offensive spark whenever the Lakers tried to settle in defensively.
Los Angeles got solid scoring nights from Luka Doncic (25 points) and LeBron James (20 points, 5 assists), but the Celtics’ balance and defensive intensity ultimately overwhelmed them as Boston nabbed its eighth win in nine games.
With another road test coming against the Phoenix Suns (33-25), the Celtics look very much like a team hitting its stride at the right time.
Here’s four takeaways from Sunday’s win:
1. Jaylen Brown Remains a Tone-Setter:
Brown looked fully in control from the opening tip, blending scoring with playmaking and consistently attacking mismatches.
Nights like this reinforce how comfortable Boston is running offense through him when needed, especially with Jayson Tatum still working his way back.
Heck, even LeBron was hyping up Brown as an MVP candidate during his postgame media availability.
2. Payton Pritchard Thriving Back As Sixth Man:
Pritchard’s efficiency (10 for 14, 6 for 9 from three) and pace off the bench changed the game.
He’s fully embraced the reserve role again, providing instant offense and steady ball-handling that stabilizes second units.
Plus, watching him talk trash to Reggie Miller while calling the game for NBC was fantastic stuff.
3. Center Rotation Still Evolving With Vooch:
Since adding Nikola Vucevic, Boston’s frontcourt mix continues to take shape.
His 9 points in 21 minutes showed flashes of the scoring punch he can provide as he settles into the system.
Say what you want about the rotation while they find their stride - the record speaks for itself.
4. Tough Night For Marcus Smart:
Remember that guy?
Facing Boston in a Lakers uniform for the first time, Marcus Smart struggled offensively (0 for 7) but still contributed with 4 assists.
His presence added a layer of familiarity to an otherwise dominant Celtics performance, and his performance was a reminder of why the organization needed to move on from him.
Love and trust and all of that was fun, but moving Smart paved the way towards acquiring Kristaps Porzingis and eventually looking to add a guy like Jrue Holiday.
Less than 12 months after making both of those moves, Boston was winning their record-setting 18th championship.
So while there’s a segment of the fanbase that believes a guy like Smart should have his No. 36 in the rafters, I think most would tell you that him being one of the trade chips that led to Banner 18 is one of the main tentpoles of his legacy.
Feb 22, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) plays for the rebound against Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. (Gary A. Vasquez/Imagn Images)JOIN THE CONVERSATION:
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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.