Lakers vs. Celtics odds, prediction, spread, time: 2026 NBA picks for Sunday Night Basketball from top model
CBS Sports
by
Ross Kelly
February 22, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The highly anticipated matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics is set to dominate Sunday Night Basketball as the two storied teams face off once again. Both squads enter the game in strong form, with the Celtics (36-19) winning eight of their last 10 games, including a recent victory over the Golden State Warriors. Meanwhile, the Lakers (34-21) have secured back-to-back wins, most recently edging out the Los Angeles Clippers in a closely contested match. Despite Boston's historical dominance in the rivalry with 211 wins to the Lakers' 166, both teams are injury-free heading into this crucial showdown.
The game tips off at 6:30 p.m. ET at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, where the Celtics have won two of their last three meetings, including a decisive 126-105 victory earlier this season. Currently, Boston is favored by 1.5 points with an over/under total of 230.5 points. The Celtics are listed as -117 on the money line, while the Lakers hold a slightly more favorable -102. SportsLine's Projection Model has simulated the game 10,000 times and predicts a high-scoring affair, with the over hitting in 64.4% of its simulations.
The model also highlights the importance of the Over in this matchup. The Lakers have exceeded the point total in 31 out of 55 games so far this season, ranking fourth in the league with a 56.4% success rate. Additionally, Los Angeles boasts an impressive home Over record of 18-8 at Crypto.com Arena, which is the best in the NBA. On their end, the Celtics have also been consistent in surpassing the total in two straight games and are poised to perform even better with Nikola Vucevic now contributing offensively.
SportsLine's model projects an average combined score of 238 points across 10,000 simulations, making the Over a top-rated pick. Furthermore, one side of the spread is projected to hit nearly 70% of the time, indicating a strong directional signal for bettors. With both teams in prime form and the stage set for
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Originally published on CBS Sports on 2/22/2026