Image Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

Celtics-Lakers draws 4.61 million viewers: Most-watched regular season game in 7 years

The Lakers-Celtics rivalry is the most famous in NBA history

Image Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

The Celtics vs Lakers rivalry is the most famous in NBA history, spanning generations and shaping the league’s biggest moments. Magic Johnson and Larry Bird took it to another level in the 1980s. In the 2000s, Kobe Bryant faced off against Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen, renewing the rivalry on the sport’s biggest stage.

The Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers delivered another classic in their historic rivalry, drawing 4.61 million viewers on ABC’s NBA Saturday Primetime. The matchup peaked at 5.3 million viewers and became the most-watched regular season game in the last seven years.

Lakers-Celtics averaged 4.61 million viewers on NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC, making it the most-watched regular season game in seven years (excluding Christmas Day) and up 92% vs. the comparable window. The game peaked at 5.3 million viewers and was the most-watched program in… pic.twitter.com/Z5OWNGIOIS
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) March 11, 2025

Luka Doncic playing for the Lakers alongside LeBron James against Jayson Tatum at TD Garden made the matchup even bigger. Fans tuned in to see how Doncic and James would play together in one of the NBA’s most intense rivalries. Making it the most-watched regular season game in seven years outside of Christmas Day.

Celtics dominate the Lakers at the TD Garden

In a highly anticipated matchup, Jayson Tatum led Celtics dominated the Lakers at the TD Garden. The Lakers largest lead was eight points at the start of the first-quarter and after a 33-33 end to the quarter. The Celtics won the second the second quarter and had a four-point half-time lead. Tatum had 22 points and Brown had 16 to their name at half-time compared to 11 for Luka and 14 for LeBron.

The Celtics dominated the Lakers in the third quarter and restricted them to only 13 points in the third. The Lakers scored their first-point of the third quarter with 4:54 left on the clock. Despite cutting a 22 point lead to four-points, the Lakers fell short and were defeated by 10 points as LeBron was ruled out for the remainder of the game with an injury concern in the fourth-quarter. Tatum ended the game with 40 points and 12 rebounds and Luka had 34 points and eight rebounds.

Boston Celtics

Los Angeles Lakers

NBA 2024-25

Suryansh Kumar

NBA/WNBA Writer

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Hello, my name is Suryansh, and I write NBA/WNBA content for ThePlayoffs. I love sports, which is why I write and I love the NBA because of the stats. My aim is to find unique stats and perspectives to provide my readers with another angle on sports.