About the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics Rivalry
By
Blake Roberts
Founder & Editor in Chief Updated: 01 January 2024
Blake Roberts Founder & Editor in Chief
Blake Roberts is the founder of Betting.US and is currently heading the creative team as Editor in Chief. Born and raised in Morgantown, West Virginia, Blake is a great sports fan, with football and basketball being his favorite. He’s our trusted voice for all betting-related matters.
Los Angeles Lakers vs Boston Celtics
- History & Previous Meetings
- Los Angeles Lakers’ Memorable Moments
- Los Angeles Lakers’ Recent Form and Season
- Boston Celtics’ Memorable Moments
- Boston Celtics’ Recent Form and Season
Los Angeles Lakers vs Boston Celtics is the pinnacle of all NBA rivalries. The two storied franchises have shaped a rivalry spanning multiple decades since their first meeting in 1959. The franchises have collided for a record 12 times in NBA Finals, with the Celtics winning nine and the Lakers clinching three.
The franchises hold the joint record for the highest number of championships in the NBA at 17 each. Such is the dominance of the two franchises that they account for 34 of the 76 championships in NBA history.
The rivalry has captivated fans across the globe through eras, producing clashes between all-time greats like Kobe Bryant vs. Paul Pierce to Magic Johnson vs. Larry Bird. In recent times, even though the intensity of their rivalry has reduced after the retirement of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, the fans remain deeply rooted to support the legacy of the franchises.
History & Previous Meetings
The Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics have faced off 384 times in their rich history. The Celtics have held the upper hand across the regular season, NBA playoffs, and playoff series. As such, their matches are a popular event at NBA betting sites.
| Competition/League | Matches | Los Angeles Lakers | Boston Celtics |
|---|---|---|---|
| NBA Regular Season | 298 | 133 | 165 |
| NBA Playoffs | 74 | 31 | 43 |
| Playoff Series Won | 12 | 3 | 9 |
| Total | 384 | 167 | 217 |
The franchises met in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1987 in 2008, where the Celtics won the series 4-2. The franchises faced off in the NBA Finals again in 2010. This time, the Lakers won in 7 games.
Los Angeles Lakers’ Memorable Moments
The Los Angeles Lakers have won the NBA Championship 16 times and registered many notable runs in the process. However, their rivalry against the Boston Celtics capped off in 1950, when the Lakers won their first championship after brushing aside their arch-rivals in a six-game series.
Later, the Lakers registered major triumphs between 1985 to 1988, winning three championships and two against their arch-rivals Boston Celtics (1985 and 1987). It was a period dominated by Lakers stars Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson. The year 1987 was special for the Lakers, led by Johnson, as he hit a hook shot in Game 4, which is famously referred to as ‘Junior Skyhook’ to help his franchise seal a crucial victory.
Post Johnson’s retirement, the baton was passed on to Kobe Bryant. He played a pivotal role in the 2017 NBA Finals in guiding the Lakers to their 16th Championship over the Celtics.
Los Angeles Lakers’ Recent Form and Season
The Lakers have endured a dry spell since winning their last NBA championship triumph in 2010, as they are yet to reach a final.
Their downward slope continued in the 2022-23 season as the Lakers began the season 0-5. LeBron James and Anthony Davis secured the maiden victory for the Lakers in the game against the Denver Nuggets. The Lakers won their third straight game for the first time since January 2022 in November last year.
In the 2022-23 season, the Lakers qualified for the Play-In-Tournament for the first time since 2012 after securing a win over the Jazz and became the first team to advance to the playoffs after starting the season 0-5.
The Lakers won the 2023 NBA playoffs against the Memphis Grizzlies in six games and defeated the defending champions Golden State Warriors in six games of the conference semi-finals. However, in the conference final, the eventual NBA champions Denver Nuggets beat them.
Boston Celtics’ Memorable Moments
The Boston Celtics have enjoyed a long spell of dominating runs against the Lakers. It began with their eighth consecutive NBA Championship triumph, including four against the Lakers, between 1959 and 1966. Bill Russell led this era of the Celtics dominance, accounting for 11 championships in 13 NBA seasons during the 1960s.
It was over to Larry Bird in 1984 and 1986, who guided the Celtics to triumph over the Lakers during that phase. It was an era when the rivalry between Bird and Johnson came to light in the Celtics vs Lakers rivalry.
Their most recent triumph over the Lakers was registered in the 2008 NBA Finals. Thanks to Bird’s clutch play, the Celtics defeated the Lakers 111-102 to seal the championship in one of the greatest games in the history of the NBA. This has made them a popular team among fans of online betting in Massachusetts.
Boston Celtics’ Recent Form and Season
Defending champions from the Eastern Conference and Atlantic Division, Boston Celtics, entered the 2023 NBA playoffs as the 2nd seed. However, the franchise could have lived up to the expectations by taking seven games to win their first two series against the Atlanta Hawks and Philadelphia 76ers, respectively.
The Celtics advanced to the Eastern Conference finals but failed to overcome the Miami Heat after quickly trailing 0-3 in the series. However, their never-say-die spirit saw them force a Game 7 but collapsed to a 103-84 defeat at home. Their season ended one win short of another NBA finals.
