Celtics vs Lakers Picks, Predictions & How to Watch (Feb 22)
By Sascha Paruk in NBA Basketball
Published:
- The Celtics are slight road favorites at the Lakers on Sunday afternoon
- The betting splits show 87% of the handle backing the over
- Check out my Celtics vs Lakers picks and predictions, plus how to watch NBA’s marquee matchup on Feb. 22
The NBA’s most-storied rivalry writes a new chapter this Sunday as the Boston Celtics head west to clash with the Los Angeles Lakers. The Celtics, coming off a decisive 121-110 victory against Golden State, arrive as road favorites. The Lakers enter with momentum after edging the Clippers 125-122, powered by the healthy duo of LeBron James and Luka Dončić.
How to Watch Celtics vs Lakers Today
Tip-off for Celtics/Lakers is scheduled for 3:30 pm PT/6:30 PM ET at crypto.com Arena.
The broadcast will be carried nationally on NBC and Peacock.
Celtics vs Lakers Picks, Prediction & Best Bets
Spread Pick: Boston Celtics -1.5 (-112 at FanDuel)
Boston enters on a tear, going 8-2 straight up over their last ten games and 5-1 as a road favorite over their last six. The Celtics boast a +6.0 Net Rating in away games with a 52.2% Total Rebound Percentage on the road – a significant edge over the Lakers’ 50.0% rebound rate and modest +1.6 Net Rating at home.
Boston’s defensive versatility, led by Derrick White and Jrue Holiday, matches up well against LA’s perimeter-heavy attack. I expect the Celtics’ glass control to be a huge factor in covering the narrow spread.
Game-Total Prediction: Over 228.5 (-114 at FanDuel)
The Over has hit in three of the Lakers’ last four games against top-10 scoring defenses. The Celtics play at the single-slowest pace in the NBA (95.6) but Dončić and LeBron provide enough firepower to push this into the 230s, especially after their recent 125-point explosion against the Clippers.
BOS Celtics vs LA Lakers Betting Lines & Odds
The Celtics opened at -115 on the moneyline but have climbed to -125, indicating sharp respect for Boston’s depth. Stripping the vig, implied probabilities give the Celtics a 54.3% chance of winning and the Lakers a 45.7% chance. A $20 bet on Boston (-125) yields $16 profit; a $20 bet on L.A. (+110) yields $22.00.
Odds as of February 22, 2026, at 1:30 pm ET. The lines in the table, above, will update automatically with the best-available price for each market if the NBA odds move before tip-off.
At prediction site Kalshi, contracts on Boston to win are trading at 54 cents (equivalent to a -117 moneyline), while contracts on Los Angeles to win are trading at 48 cents (equivalent to a +108 moneyline).
BOS vs LAL Public-Betting Splits
The moneyline reveals a sharp-public divide in Sunday’s NBA public betting trends. The Lakers command 76.9% of the money and 55.4% of tickets, yet the line has moved toward Boston (from -115 to -130). This reverse-line movement signals sharp action respecting Boston’s depth over the public’s infatuation with LA’s stars.
On the total, the public is decisive: 87.0% of the money and 86.9% of tickets back the Over, aligning with my game-total prediction.
Celtics vs Lakers Statistical Comparison
The Lakers lead the NBA in field-goal percentage at 50.0%, maximizing the playmaking of James and Dončić. Boston counters with 42.4 three-point attempts per game — nearly nine more per contest than LA.
Even if the Lakers shoot a higher clip from the floor, Boston’s ability to trade twos for threes creates a mathematical hurdle. The Celtics also dominate on the offensive glass with 17.4 second chance points per game versus LA’s 13.2, a critical edge for covering the short spread.
Sign Up for SBD’s Newsletter Now
Did you want the latest sports betting news, analysis, picks, betting trends, and relevant data straight to your inbox? If so, you’ll want to subscribe to SBD’s newsletter now!
Managing Editor
Sascha has been working in the sports-betting industry since 2014, and quickly paired his strong writing skills with a burgeoning knowledge of probability and statistics. He holds an undergraduate degree in linguistics and a Juris Doctor from the University of British Columbia.
