The Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics will face off at TD Garden on Saturday night, with LeBron James and Luka Dončić squaring off against Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET, and the game will air on ABC.
The Boston Celtics are very familiar with Luka Dončić after facing him in the NBA Finals when he was on the Dallas Mavericks, but Saturday's matchup will bring a whole new challenge, as they now have to game plan for Dončić and LeBron James sharing the same backcourt.
Find out why I’m backing the Lakers to continue their momentum in my NBA picks for Lakers vs. Celtics predictions on Saturday, March 8.
Lakers vs Celtics prediction
My best bet
Lakers +7.5 (-115 at bet365)
My analysis
When Anthony Davis was traded to the Dallas Mavericks, we all expected the Los Angeles Lakers' defense to fall off a cliff, but it's actually been the opposite—they are one of the top defensive units in the NBA and are playing fantastic team defense.
Not only is the defense humming right now, but this version of the Lakers matches up well against the Boston Celtics. No doubt, Jaxson Hayes isn't the rim protector that Davis was, but the Lakers can also play a lineup with length and size across all their wing and backcourt positions.
We've seen this lineup recently lock down the Los Angeles Clippers and hold them scoreless for an extended period. It features Luka Dončić, LeBron James, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Dorian Finney-Smith on the wings. This group has the potential to create problems for the Celtics because Vanderbilt and Finney-Smith are exactly the type of defenders you want on the perimeter to slow down Tatum and Brown.
The other calling card for the Celtics has been their multiple perimeter defenders who can smother an offense—namely Jrue Holiday and Derrick White—but this version of the Lakers' offense is less vulnerable to that. They now have three creators they can put on the court at the same time: James, Dončić, and Austin Reaves.
What I'm trying to say is that while the Lakers may not have the interior presence they once had with Davis, this version of the team matches up particularly well against the Celtics.
I have this spread priced at Lakers +6, and +7.5 (-115) is available at bet365, which is why we’re ultimately taking the bet. It’s not the biggest probability gap, as this allows us to price the +7.5 at -127, but there’s an opportunity for this bet to gain additional value.
I have this priced with Kristaps Porziņģis and Holiday both playing for the Celtics, but both are currently listed as questionable. It sounds like Porziņģis is more probable than questionable, but Holiday could still be ruled out. Even if both play, I think you have an edge on the Lakers, but as the day progresses, that edge has the potential to grow.
Lakers vs Celtics same-game parlay
Los Angeles Lakers money line
LeBron James 7+ assists
Luka Doncic 25+ points
As always, if you're looking for an SGP, you're probably aiming for a bigger plus-money payout, so let's turn up the odds and take the Lakers on the moneyline instead of the spread.
JJ Redick is an absolute basketball sicko. Not only did he have all day Friday to prepare for this one, but he was also the top analyst for ABC during last season’s NBA Finals and would have watched a ton of film on Luka Dončić against the Celtics. I'm sure he has some ideas on how to counter Joe Mazzulla.
As for the LeBron James assists prop, this total has dropped to 6.5 now that James shares the backcourt with Austin Reaves and Dončić, but the potential assists are still very much there. James is often selective with his performances, and you just know an ABC primetime game against the Celtics is a triple-double watch game for him.
Lastly, I’m adding Dončić to score 25+ points as the final leg of the parlay. Dončić is a threat to score 25+ against any opponent, but if Holiday isn’t able to suit up, the Celtics will be down a defender who can guard Dončić with a level of strength and physicality that most others simply don’t have.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
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Lakers vs Celtics odds
Lakers vs Celtics live odds
Lakers vs Celtics opening odds
- Spread: Los Angeles +6 | Boston -6
- Moneyline: Los Angeles +200 | Boston -245
- Over/Under: Over 225.5 | Under 225.5
Odds courtesy of bet365
Lakers vs Celtics spread and Over/Under analysis
- The questionable status of Holiday and Porziņģis will drive movement in this spread throughout the day.
- The initial steam from Celtics -6 to -7.5, I believe, is being driven by the expectation that Porziņģis will play.
- The total opened at 225.5 and has moved to 227.5.
- I expect the total to settle at 227.5 and close at that number.
Lakers vs Celtics trend
The Los Angeles Laker have hit the Moneyline in 53 of their last 81 games (+19.25 Units / 10% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Lakers vs. Celtics.
How to watch Lakers vs Celtics
| Location | TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts |
| Date | Saturday, 3-8-2025 |
| Tip-off | 8:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | ABC |
Lakers vs Celtics latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA.
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