LOS ANGELES — The Lakers have been waiting more than six months for another shot at the Boston Celtics. Now that they'll get it, they might not like it.

The Celtics, winners of a franchise-record 19 straight games and off to the best two-loss start in NBA history, visit Staples Center today for a Christmas Day matchup with the Lakers.

The game will be the first between the teams since the Celtics romped to a 131-92 victory in Game 6 of the NBA Finals last June to win their first championship in 22 years and 17th overall.

"No secrets," Lakers forward Pau Gasol said after a light practice yesterday. "We know what's going to happen. We're going to have to match their physicality, they're going to have to match our strengths."

While the game might be the most hyped of the regular season, finals MVP Paul Pierce played down its importance after the Celtics beat visiting Philadelphia, 110-91, Tuesday night and before the team boarded a plane for its cross-country flight. The partisan crowd in Boston began a "Beat L.A." chant midway through the fourth quarter.

"If we beat the Lakers, do we get anything for it? Do we win another championship? Do we get another ring? No. It's just another game on the schedule that we have to play," the Celtics star said. "Truthfully, I think the media and the fans make it more than what it really is. This is for the fans. That's why they put it on the commercials. That's why they put it in the newspapers and that's why they make it on Christmas Day.

"This is for the fans and the media but for us, it's another opportunity to get better and build on what we're trying to do because the ultimate goal is winning a championship."

And that, as everyone knows, can't happen until June.

The Celtics bring in a 27-2 record while the Lakers are a Western Conference-leading 23-5 and have won 11 in a row at home.