The Lakers vs. Celtics rivalry has always been one of the most iconic matchups in NBA history, but this weekend's showdown has taken the stakes to another level. Saturday night’s matchup at TD Garden has officially become the most expensive home game in Boston Celtics history, with courtside seats reaching a jaw-dropping $23,112.
Even the cheapest available tickets are selling for $485, while the average price for a seat is a staggering $731.
This record-breaking ticket pricing reflects the significance of the game, as both teams enter the clash as the No. 2 seed in their respective conferences.
With the Lakers on an eight-game winning streak and the Celtics continuing to dominate the East, the anticipation for this matchup is sky-high.
For the first time since 1985, both the Celtics and Lakers are ranked top two in their respective conferences with at least 50 games played. The Lakers currently sit at 40-21, holding the second seed in the Western Conference, while the Celtics boast a 45-18 record, making them the second seed in the East.
And if history is any indication, this could be a preview of something bigger. The last time both teams were in this position in 1985, they met in the NBA Finals—a series that saw the Lakers win in six games to capture their first-ever Finals victory over the Celtics.
That moment marked a turning point in the rivalry, as Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar finally overcame Larry Bird and Boston’s dominance.
A major factor in the skyrocketing ticket prices this time is the presence of Luka Doncic, who was acquired by the Lakers from the Mavericks in a blockbuster trade last month. Since Doncic’s arrival, Los Angeles has gone 9-1 in games he has played, looking like legitimate title contenders alongside LeBron James.
This will be Luka’s first matchup against the Celtics since they defeated his Mavericks in the 2024 NBA Finals, adding extra fuel to an already heated battle.
Luka's star power, combined with the fact that LeBron James is still playing at an elite level at age 40, has made this game a must-watch event. Fans are eager to witness two of the biggest stars in the game—LeBron and Luka—take on Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown in a high-stakes battle between two of the NBA’s most storied franchises.
While Lakers-Celtics games have always drawn significant interest, this game has entered uncharted territory in terms of demand. According to TickPick, this matchup ranks as the seventh-most expensive regular-season game in NBA history.
What’s even more shocking?
The Lakers have been involved in all 10 of the most expensive NBA regular-season games ever recorded.
To put this into perspective, even the most expensive game in NBA history—the Lakers vs. Jazz in 2016, where Kobe Bryant played his final game—had an average ticket price of $1,137. With Saturday’s game averaging $731 per ticket, it’s clear that fans are willing to pay a premium for what could be the biggest matchup of the season.
Both teams are fully aware of the significance of this matchup. The Lakers won the first meeting earlier this season, defeating the Celtics 117-96 at Crypto.com Arena on January 23. But with Boston playing at home this time, the Celtics will be looking to make a statement and avenge that loss.
With Luka Doncic and LeBron James leading the Lakers and Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown leading the Celtics, this game has all the ingredients of an instant classic. If these two teams meet again in the NBA Finals, expect ticket prices to shatter even more records.
For now, fans lucky enough to attend Saturday’s game will witness history—not just on the court, but in their bank accounts as well.
