The Lakers head to Boston for a heavyweight clash with the Celtics on Saturday night. Boston enters as 7.5-point favorites in this matchup between two of the NBA’s hottest teams.
Both squads are riding impressive win streaks, with the Lakers winning eight straight and the Celtics taking their last three.
The game tips off at 8:30 p.m. ET at TD Garden and will be broadcast nationally on ABC.
Lakers vs. Celtics Free Live Stream
Fans can catch the action for free through Jazz Sports.
Game Details:
– Lakers (40-21) at Celtics (45-18)
– Saturday, March 8, 2025
– 8:30 p.m. ET
– TD Garden, Boston
– TV: ABC, Alaska Rural Communications Service
– Odds: Celtics -7.5 (-115), Lakers +7.5 (-105)
Injury Concerns
The Lakers might be without Rui Hachimura (knee), who’s already ruled out, while Maxi Kleber remains sidelined indefinitely with a foot injury. LeBron James and Luka Doncic are both listed as probable with minor ailments.
Boston has its own health issues. Kristaps Porzingis is battling illness, while Jrue Holiday (finger) and Sam Hauser (ankle) are all questionable for Saturday’s game.
The Celtics were seriously shorthanded in their last game, missing five key players in Thursday’s win over Philadelphia.
Lakers Surging at the Perfect Time
The Lakers have been on fire lately, winning 18 of their last 21 games.
This hot streak has catapulted them to second place in the Western Conference, though they still trail the Oklahoma City Thunder by 11 games.
Luka Doncic has fit in perfectly since joining the team, averaging 23.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 8.1 assists in 10 games as a Laker.
Los Angeles showed their resilience on Thursday, overcoming a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Knicks in overtime.
They’re now 15-14 on the road this season.
Celtics Maintaining Their Edge
Despite their injury challenges, Boston keeps finding ways to win. They’ve gone 8-2 in their last 10 games while averaging 114.6 points.
The Celtics hold the best record in the Eastern Conference at 45-18, though coach Joe Mazzulla has been forced to use different lineups recently due to injuries.
Boston is tough at home with a 21-11 record at TD Garden.
Previous Matchup
The Lakers won the first meeting between these teams this season, beating Boston 117-96 back on January 23 in Los Angeles.
Interestingly, Anthony Davis led the Lakers with 24 points in that win, but he’s now with the Mavericks after being traded in the Doncic deal.
The Lakers have been excellent against Eastern Conference teams lately, going 10-2 in their last 12 such matchups.
Boston has also performed well against the West, winning four of their last five against Western Conference opponents.
According to ESPN’s Basketball Power Index, the Celtics have a 69.4% chance of winning Saturday’s game.
