LA Lakers-Boston Celtics clash breaks seven-year-old NBA record
The Boston Celtics' thrilling weekend win over the Los Angeles Lakers at TD Garden beat a major NBA record.
When it comes to the NBA, the biggest rivalry you’ll find is between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers. The two franchises are the most successful in the basketball league’s history, with the Celtics boasting 18 championships to the Lakers’ 17.
This past weekend, the two powerhouses faced off in a heavyweight bout at Boston’s TD Garden, serving up a spectacular game that ended up with a 111-101 victory for the Celtics - and an injury for Lakers superstar LeBron James.
How many TV viewers watched the Lakers vs the Celtics?
Saturday’s game between the Celtics and Lakers was so thrilling that, according to the NBA, it was the most-watched matchup in the league in the last seven years, excluding Christmas Day games. The NBA revealed today that the primetime broadcast on ABC averaged 4.61 million viewers, peaking at 5.3 million.
It’s important to stress the point that this was the most-watched game outside of the Christmas Day window, as it was a December 25 matchup that had the highest viewership so far this season. The Lakers’ Yuletide clash with the Golden State Warriors reached an unmatched 7.9 million viewers.
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.
— NBA (@NBA) March 11, 2025
The game peaked at 5.3 million viewers and was the most-watched program in… pic.twitter.com/ThiZ6JCuMj
Lakers out to halt losing sequence against Bucks
Spurred on by the stellar duo of LeBron and Luka Doncic, the Lakers had secured eight consecutive wins before facing the Celtics on Saturday. However, Los Angeles has now lost two in a row: after defeat to the Bostonians, the Lakers succumbed to the Brooklyn Nets two nights later.
J.J. Redick’s men will attempt to return to winning ways when they face the Bucks in Milwaukee this Thursday. The visitors will be forced to overcome a shortage of forwards, as they will be without LeBron, Rui Hachimura and Maxi Kleber, who are all out due to injuries.
Currently, the Lakers are the third-best team in the Western Conference, with a 40-23 record. However, the Californians are just four games above the trapdoor that would see them drop out of the playoff spots and into the play-in tournament.
Lakers vs Bucks: start time, how to watch
The Lakers visit the Bucks at Fiserv Forum on Thursday, March 13, 2025, with tip-off scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT. Viewers in the U.S. can watch the game on TNT, TruTV and Max. You can stream TNT’s coverage on the online platform fubo, which offers a free trial.
The 36-27 Bucks head into the game sitting fourth in the Eastern Conference, having also lost their last two. Milwaukee went down 111-109 to the Orlando Magic on Saturday, before a 112-100 defeat to the Cleveland Cavaliers the following day.
Article originally written in Spanish, before translated with the assistance of AI, and edited and expanded by William Allen.
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.
Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
Complete your personal details to comment
Your opinion will be published with first and last names