NBA
Boston Celtics vs Los Angeles Lakers Preview: Odds, Tips and Prediction
Date: Sunday 9th March 2025 Start time: 8:30 pm local time (1:30 pm BST) Venue: FTD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts Last meeting: January 23, 2025, Los Angeles Lakers 117-96 Boston Celtics The Boston Celtics host the Los Angeles Lakers for a blockbuster Saturday night of basketball action.
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LeBron James and Luka Doncic//Getty Images
The Boston Celtics host the Los Angeles Lakers for a blockbuster Saturday night of basketball action. This intense rivalry has spanned through NBA history as both organizations are the most successful of all time, winning by far the greatest number of Championships since the league’s inception. The defending NBA champions, the Celtics, are second in the East and the Lakers have two superstars in the form of LeBron James and Luca Doncic, with the latter adjusting to the roster.
We will also offer insightful value bets and highlight the best online sports betting options for those looking to make informed bets before concluding with our prediction.
SportsBoom is here to provide all the details about both teams ahead of this titanic battle. This preview covers all you need to know, focusing on breaking down key players on both teams and discussing past head-to-head matches. We will also offer insightful value bets before concluding with our prediction.
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Pre-Game Odds and Win Probability
Los Angeles Lakers: 11/8 (2.38) – 46.67%
Boston Celtics: 4/7 (1.57) – 63.64%
Forecast odds – Betting available on 1Win closer to event
Head-to-Head Record
Throughout regular season history, this encounter has seen a total of 301 matches. Both teams have faced off since the first game in the late 1940s, showing how long this heated rivalry has been around for. The Boston Celtics have the most wins, though, producing 166 wins in total. The Los Angeles Lakers have won their fair share, completing 135 wins.
This fixture is always one to relish considering it only happens twice a year. The Lakers won the matchup earlier in the season and the one before it, but the Celtics went on a three-game winning streak.
Last Five Matches
| Season | Date | Result |
| 2024/25 Season | January 23, 2025 | Los Angeles Lakers 117-96 Boston Celtics |
| 2023/24 Season | February 1, 2024 | Los Angeles Lakers 114-105 Boston Celtics |
| 2023/24 Season | December 25, 2023 | Boston Celtics 126-115 Los Angeles Lakers |
| 2022/23 Season | January 28, 2023 | Boston Celtics 125-121 Los Angeles Lakers |
| 2022/23 Season | December 13, 2022 | Boston Celtics 122-118 Los Angeles Lakers |
How is the season so far for both teams?
Boston Celtics
- Record: 43-18
- Home Form: 19-11
- Road Form: 24-7
The Boston Celtics are the defending NBA champions and are currently placed second in the Eastern Conference. The Celtics may not be able to catch up to the Cleveland Cavaliers out front, but the organization will no doubt be a favourite in the playoffs. The franchise has the second-best record on the road, winning only seven defeats. The Celtics will have a tough test on their hands for this fixture.
The face of the franchise is unquestionably Jayson Tatum. The newly turned 27-year-old is one of the best players in the league and is the lead player for points per game, rebounds and assists within the roster. His presence within the organization greatly improves the team morale and is averaging 26.8 points, 8.8 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game.
In addition, shooting guard Jaylen Brown is producing impressive numbers as well. He is the clear second-best player on the roster and his output is vital to the entire organization. He is posting 23.2 points, 4.7 assists and 6 rebounds per game. Though these numbers don’t match Tatum’s output, the Celtics having two superstars is fundamental to their success.
Los Angeles Lakers
- Record: 38-21
- Home Form: 23-7
- Road Form: 15-14
The Los Angeles Lakers have worked their way up the rankings and are now the second seed in the West and are now one of the best teams in the entire league based on form. The Lakers have opportunities to extend the advantage between themselves and the teams surrounding them due to their games in hand, but this franchise is not just a playoff contender, they are a title contender.
LeBron James is averaging 24.8 points per game, which is his worst season since his first year in the NBA, which is incredible considering he turned 40 a few months ago. James is still producing the numbers though, averaging 8 assists and 7 rebounds per game too, which makes him one of the best in the league in all areas.
Newly acquired starman Luca Doncic arrives in Los Angeles and he is finding his feet. He is averaging 22 points, 8.3 rebounds and 6.8 assists, impressive numbers considering he has only just joined the franchise. Doncic is easily one of the best three players in the league, and although he has had a tough year with injury and adjusting to life on the west coast, he will no doubt raise his game in the coming weeks and months.
Value Bets
Jayson Tatum, Over 25 Points and Over 5 Rebounds: Jayson Tatum has only played 15 games against the Los Angeles Lakers, but surprisingly his numbers have seen a regression from his last two games. Tatum previously threw over 25 points in eight of the last nine games before the last two matches, therefore, we expect him to be back at his brilliant best for this one.
LeBron James, Over 25 Points and Over 7 Assists and Over 7 Rebounds: One of the most impressive statistics from this fixture is LeBron James’ record against the Boston Celtics. His career has seen a total of 61 games and is producing 27.8 points, 7.6 assists and 7.3 rebounds across these games. His incredible basketball ability will more than likely be on display once again, and we predict him to be a significant part of this game.
Prediction: Los Angeles Lakers to win
This matchup will be one of the exciting battles throughout March Madness, and we conclude that the Los Angeles Lakers will prevail. They have won the previous two matches, but the newly found momentum within the organization since Luca Doncic arrived makes them a tough team to beat. The Lakers are in red hot form and will see this as a must-win to seal a top two seed position in their Conference.
Henry Cheal is a versatile freelance sports journalist with extensive experience in the industry. Henry has previously worked at the 2024 World Snooker Championship and earned a Multimedia Sports Journalism degree from UCFB in 2023.
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