Lakers @ Celtics Pregame Report
The Lakers (16-5) are coming off a last-second victory in Toronto last night and will be taking on their longtime rival, the Boston Celtics (13-9). Los Angeles will be without Luka Doncic, Marcus Smart, and LeBron James, as he was downgraded to out with this game being the second of a back-to-back.
After all that happened last night, we’re treated to the BEST RIVALRY IN THE NBA tonight 😈🍿 pic.twitter.com/xAuhsizpdL
— Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) December 5, 2025
Boston is also playing a back-to-back after earning a victory last night against the Wizards.
Austin Reaves Impact
The Lakers will need to rely on Austin Reaves to be able to pull out a win tonight. The last time Los Angeles was in Boston without LeBron, Reaves scored 32 points and knocked down seven three-pointers to propel the Lakers to a victory.
Reaves is in the midst of an All-Star campaign, averaging 29 points, five rebounds, and six assists. He is coming off a 44-point, 10-assist performance in Toronto last night. Without Luka Doncic in the lineup, Reaves has played out of this world, averaging 41 points.
Los Angeles will need another huge Reaves performance tonight, but it will not be easy.
Defensive Effort
The Lakers will have their work cut out for them on the defensive end tonight. The Celtics were without Jaylen Brown last night, but he will be in the lineup tonight. In Brown’s last game against the Knicks, he finished with 42 points.
Along with Brown, Derrick White and Payton Pritchard are always a threat to score. White led the Celtics in scoring in their victory against Washington, finishing with 30 points, seven rebounds, and nine assists. Pritchard is in the midst of a career-best season, averaging 17 points.
Boston has won three games in a row, and they now sit in fifth place in the Eastern Conference, and they are doing this without their leader, Jayson Tatum.
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Deandre Ayton has been quite the offseason acquisition for the Lakers. He is shooting a career-best 71.3% from the field while averaging 15.8 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.
Ayton needs to be a force in the interior, grabbing offensive rebounds and putbacks. The Celtics have Neemias Queta as their big man, who is a shot blocker, but Ayton is the more skilled player and should have the advantage.
Tonight is going to be fun, even though the Lakers will be without two stars, but they have done well in general this season, regardless of the injuries and absences. Look for the Lakers to use the momentum from last night’s win and hopefully come out with a win tonight against the rival Boston Celtics.
