Los Angeles Lakers vs Boston Celtics Prediction 12/5/2025 Today’s NBA Picks

The Los Angeles Lakers pay a visit to the Boston Celtics at the TD Garden on Friday night.

Los Angeles Lakers Betting Preview 

The Los Angeles Lakers have been in great form as they’ve won 16 of their first 21 games of the season and they will be eager to maintain that momentum after outlasting the Raptors in a 123-120 road win last night. Austin Reaves led the team with 44 points and 11 assists on 13 of 21 shooting, Deandre Ayton tallied 17 points with eight rebounds and two blocks while Jake LaRavia chipped in with 14 points. As a team, the Lakers shot 50 percent from the field and 13 of 31 from the 3-point line as they battled the Raptors in a tight contest that looked headed for overtime, before Rui Hachimura drained the game winner at the buzzer to steal the game for the Lakers. LeBron James had a quiet game of just eight points with 11 assists on four of 17 shooting from the field.

Boston Celtics Betting Preview 

The Boston Celtics have been on a tear as they’ve won eight of their last 10 games overall and they will be aiming for a fourth straight victory after making light work of the Wizards in a 146-101 road win last night. Derrick White led the team with 30 points, seven rebounds and nine assists on 12 of 21 shooting, Jordan Walsh added 22 points on eight of eight shooting, Payton Pritchard scored 20 points with eight assists while Neemias Queta chipped in with 17 points on seven of nine shooting. As a team, the Celtics shot 55 percent from the field and 20 of 47 from the 3-point line as they got off to a rapid start and surprisingly led by only seven points despite a strong first half, but they caught fire and dominated the second half by 80-42 to smash the Wizards despite playing without Jaylen Brown who sat out with an illness. 

Los Angeles v Boston Free Prediction

The Lakers are still missing Marcus Smart and Luka Doncic, while the Celtics have ruled out Jayson Tatum with Jaylen Brown listed as questionable. The Lakers are coming into this meeting with plenty of momentum and they might still be celebrating after last night’s thrilling win over the Raptors, but now they take on the Celtics who have quietly been one of the form teams in the league lately. The Lakers can certainly pull off the upset in this one if Reaves has another monster game, but James looked really rusty last night and they’re going to need to be at their best to take down the Celtics who looked great last night thanks to their role players stepping up in the absence of Brown. This is a game where you should check the lineups before tipoff, but if Brown is out again, I think the Lakers can hang around and at get the cover in a close one.

Peter Tran's Pick: LA Lakers +7.5