Jaylen Brown, Payton Pritchard lead Celtics past Lakers 111-89 for a season sweep of this rivalry

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jaylen Brown had 32 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, and the Boston Celtics swept the season series in the NBA's most storied rivalry with a 111-89 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night.

Payton Pritchard scored 30 points with six 3-pointers and eight assists for the Celtics, who have won three straight and eight of nine as they attempt to close the gap on Detroit atop the Eastern Conference standings.

Brown and Pritchard scored 19 points apiece in the second half, and Pritchard wrapped up the win on a step-back 3-pointer with 3:24 to play, prompting the Lakers to empty their bench amid scattered boos.

Luka Doncic had 25 points and LeBron James got the 43,000th point of his career while scoring 20 for the Lakers, who fell short at home against a probable NBA title contender for the third time in two weeks. Los Angeles was held to its second-lowest point total of the season.

Austin Reaves added 15 points for the Lakers, who also repeatedly lost their cool and got whistled for three technical fouls after a series of questionable calls.

Boston nursed a solid lead throughout the second half and had little trouble controlling the latest meeting between historic franchises with a combined 35 NBA titles.

The Lakers honored Pat Riley during a halftime ceremony after unveiling a bronze statue of their former coach outside their downtown arena. Riley won six championship rings during his two decades in Los Angeles, including nine seasons and four titles as the head coach of the 1980s Showtime Lakers.

Doncic, James and Reaves played together for only the 12th time this season with the Lakers largely back to full health — but then Los Angeles lost backup center Jaxson Hayes to an ankle injury before halftime.

The Celtics beat the Lakers 126-105 in Boston last December while Doncic and James were out.

While James extended his NBA scoring record to another milestone number, he also played in his 1,600th regular-season game to join Celtics great Robert Parish (1,611) as the only NBA players to reach the mark.

Celtics: At Phoenix on Tuesday.

Lakers: Host Orlando on Tuesday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta, right, dunks the ball against Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Katie Chin)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic speaks to referee Michael Smith during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Katie Chin)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic reacts on the court during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Katie Chin)

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown drives to the basket against Los Angeles Lakers forward Jake LaRavia during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Katie Chin)

PHOENIX (AP) — Portland All-Star guard Deni Avdija left the Trail Blazers' game Sunday against the Phoenix Suns because of a lower back injury and the team said he won't return to the game.

Avdija was listed as questionable coming into the game, but decided to play. He lasted just one minute before leaving the court and going back to the locker room.

Avdija — who has been battling lower back issues for weeks — came into the night averaging 25 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.8 assists.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) drives to the basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)

Denver Nuggets guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) tries to drive to the basket past Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)