Lakers Close On A 8-0 Run To Steal Another One From The Celtics

For the second time this season, the Boston Celtics had a great opportunity to knock off the Los Angeles Lakers. Sadly, this afternoon's game ended the same way-with a Boston loss-although this one turned out to be even more bitter.

The Celtics (21-19, 5-11 on the road) went scoreless for the final 2:41 and as a result, they choked away a 94-89 lead. The Lakers (25-16, 18-2 at home) scored the final eight points (four points by Kobe Bryant and four points by Andrew Bynum) to snatch a 97-94 win at the Staples Center.

This would have been such a meaningful victory for the C's based on the opponent and the fact that it started a pivotal eight-game road trip.

With a severe lack of big men due to the fact that Jermaine O'Neal (possible wrist surgery) and Chris Wilcox (heart problems) could be out for the season, the Celts deserved better since they rallied from a 15-point deficit (37-22) midway through the second quarter.

Bryant (26 points, 7 assists), Bynum (20 points, 14 rebounds) and Pau Gasol (13 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists) had their usual big games against Boston but I would say the key for Los Angeles was Ron Artest. He had 14 points including three 3-pointers and he seemed to be fully engaged for once especially after him and Paul Pierce (13 points, 9 assists, 3 steals) got into a shoving match for old time's sake.

Rajon Rondo (24 points, 10 assists) toasted the corpse of Derek Fisher (9 points) but what else do you expect? Ray Allen (17 points, 6 assists), Kevin Garnett (14 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals) and Brandon Bass (15 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocks) all did enough to win.

You can't say Boston didn't have its chances down the stretch as Garnett, Allen (twice), Bass, Pierce and Rondo all missed shots during that fatal dry spell that ended it.

In front of Tom Brady sitting courtside in hipster glasses-it is LA-the Lakers jumped out to a 24-14 lead after one quarter. Miraculously, the Celtics cut it to 44-42 at halftime. Boston trailed 72-70 heading into the fourth.

Los Angeles shot a little better (50.7%-47%), they hit two more 3-pointers (8-6) and seven more free throws (17-10), they also grabbed eight more rebounds (42-34). Boston stayed in it by playing more unselfishly. They had eight more assists (33-25), three more steals (11-8), five more blocks (8-3) and five less turnovers (17-12). Somehow the Celtics had 13 more fast break points (21-8) but the Lakers had 12 more points in the paint (42-30).

It's a shame that the NBA's best rivalry won't be revisited this season barring a very unlikely meeting in the Finals. I hate the NBA but it doesn't get any better than Celtics-Lakers, today was very entertaining despite the fact that I was worried it would carry over into the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament selection show (it did).

The Celtics don't have to leave their hotels for their next game as they face the Clippers (23-16) tomorrow night back at the Staples Center. If you've turned on ESPN in the last three months, you know all about them. With Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, they're fun to watch plus with a collection of talented role players (DeAndre Jordan, Mo Williams, Reggie Evans, Caron Butler, Kenyon Martin) around them, they have quickly become a solid team. Boston will have its hands full even though the Clippers lost tonight 97-93 to the Warriors.

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Lakers Survive 88-87 In OT Against Celtics

Well you can't say that the Boston Celtics didn't have many chances to beat the Los Angeles Lakers tonight at TD Garden.

In the first of two regular season meetings in the NBA's best rivalry, the Celts (14-11) squandered three chances to win it: once in regulation and twice in overtime as they fell 88-87 to the Lakers (15-11).

Boston's five-game winning streak was snapped and Los Angeles has now won four straight at the Garden. The Celtics will visit the Staples Center on March 11 (a Sunday afternoon) in the only other game this season. I'd pray for a Boston-Los Angeles NBA Finals but I think Celtics-Clippers is more likely than Celtics-Lakers.

After Pau Gasol (25 points, 14 rebounds) tied it up late with an offensive rebound and putback, the Celtics had a chance for basketball's version of a walk-off win. Yet for some reason, they went for a 3-pointer (even though it was tied) and Mickael Pietrus (9 points) was the guy that took the last shot in regulation. His prayer didn't have a shot of going in.

In overtime, Paul Pierce (18 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists) could have put Boston up by one but his jumper fell short. Ray Allen (22 points, 6 rebounds) got the rebound but his last-second layup attempt was swatted away by Gasol. It was a frenetic finish to an overall sloppy but entertaining contest.

There are two main reasons why the Celtics lost: 1) they attempted five free throws in 53 minutes. I didn't know that was possible in the NBA and at home. 2) Kevin Garnett (12 points, 12 rebounds) was an ice cold 6 of 23 from the floor.

Andrew Bynum had 16 points, 17 rebounds and three blocks in the win while Matt Barnes had 11 off the bench for Los Angeles. Former Celtics great Troy Murphy had nine rebounds.

Rajon Rondo-the subject of an absurd Bynum for Rondo trade rumor-had 14 points and seven assists. Brandon Bass had eight points and five rebounds off the bench.

These teams helped to point out the other's glaring weakness: LA is going nowhere with Derek Fisher (0 points, 2 assists) and Steve Blake (5 points) as its main point guards. Likewise, Boston still lacks a center with a pulse as Jermaine O'Neal (2 points, 6 rebounds) was toasted by the best power forward-center combination in the NBA (Bynum and Gasol).

The 2012 NBA All-Star game reserves were announced today and only Pierce was named from the Celtics. It's the 10th time he's made it. Garnett missed out after making 14 in a row. I wouldn't be surprised at all if Rondo and/or Allen are injury replacements since other guys in the East are bound to get hurt with two weeks left before All-Star weekend in Orlando.

The Celts hit five more threes (6-1) but the Lakers hit 10 more free throws (15-5) and grabbed 10 more rebounds (55-45). Boston had nine more assists (22-13) and 11 more fast break points (17-6). LA had eight more points in the paint (46-38) and five more points off turnovers (13-8).

Boston led 26-22 after one quarter and 47-45 at halftime. Los Angeles went ahead with a solid third quarter (22-17) but the Celts (18-15) rallied in the fourth.

It's a quick turnaround, welcome to the NBA in 2011-12, as the Celtics go to Toronto to face the Raptors tomorrow night. Even with old legs and short rest, I expect Boston to throttle Toronto, an awful team that they've already dominated twice this season.

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Lakers beat Celtics on Ray Ray's big night

The fans that packed the TD Garden last night got what they wanted: Ray Allen broke Reggie Miller's NBA record for 3-pointers with a pair in the first quarter but the game (an afterthought) didn't turn out as perfectly as the Lakers won 96-92 in their only regular season visit to Boston.

It was a nice moment even though they didn't stop the game right away which was puzzling. The usually emotionless Ray got to hug Miller (commentating for TNT) and his family who were all courtside.

Buoyed by the momentum of Allen's (20 points) memorable night, the Celts (38-14) got up by as many as 15 points in the second quarter but LA (37-16) eventually wore them down with their big bodies.

More than ever (which is saying something), the Celtics have so many injuries. Nate Robinson went down in the second quarter with a knee injury (don't think it's too serious) while Shaq, Delonte West, Jermaine O'Neal and Marquis Daniels are still out.

Boston dressed only 10 players which leads to wacky things like Avery Bradley covering Kobe Bryant (23 points) for a couple minutes in the third quarter.

Pau Gasol had 20 points and 10 rebounds, Andrew Bynum scored 16 points with nine rebounds while Lamar Odom (10 points, 12 rebounds) and Shannon Brown (12 points) were superb off the bench.

Paul Pierce had 15 points, Rajon Rondo notched 12 points and 10 assists, Kendrick Perkins put up 12 points and nine rebounds while Kevin Garnett had a quiet 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Von Wafer was great off the bench with eight points while Glen Davis scored nine but struggled shooting (3 of 10).

The Cs were up 27-20 after the first quarter and 53-45 at halftime. LA worked them in the third quarter (27-15) and Kobe helped finish it off in the fourth (20-18).

For the game, the Lakers shot 47.9% to 40.2 for the Celtics. Boston hit two more 3-pointers (5-3) but LA made four more free throws (19-15). LA grabbed 11 more rebounds (47-36) but Boston had five more assists (25-20). The Lakers pounded it inside to the tune of 50-32 points in the paint while the Cs didn't get to run much (9-2) fast break points.

This gauntlet of games ends on Sunday as the Celtics host the Miami Heat. Boston has won both matchups so far this season but truth be told, those were very early in the season.

Allen and Rondo too much for Lakers

The Boston Celtics got the job done in LA by getting the split, winning Game 2 of the NBA Finals last night 103-94 at the Staples Center.

On the outside, the Celtics were a two-man team: Ray Allen set a Finals record with eight 3-pointers (32 points) and Rajon Rondo added a triple-double 19 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists for his fifth career triple-double in the playoffs.

Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett were completely shutdown offensively, shooting a combined 4-for-16 but both made numerous other contributions: screens, defense, passing, free throws.

Kendrick Perkins had 12 points and Boston's bench outscored LA's 24-15. Glen Davis had eight points and seven rebounds, Rasheed Wallace had seven points and seven rebounds while Nate Robinson notched a quick seven points in six minutes.

The Lakers size was out in full force as they set a Finals record with 14 points while Andrew Bynum (21 points, 7 blocks, 6 rebounds) and Pau Gasol (25 points, 8 rebounds, 6 blocks) were both unstoppable.

Kobe Bryant wasn't his usual clutch self, dropping only 21 points on 8-for-20 shooting.

Despite tons of foul trouble on both sides, this was a scintillating game with great plays and runs. Boston closed with an 11-0 run, fueled by Rondo who seemingly did everything.

The Celts came out strong, winning the first quarter 29-22 and 54-48 at the half. It only took a few minutes into the second half for the Lakers to take the lead back (24-18 third quarter) but Boston closed the fourth (31-22) in style.

With Games 3-5 in Boston, all the C's needed was one game in LA. They seemed to quickly forget their no-show in Game 1 and it doesn't matter now. If they can get two at the TD Garden, chances are great they'll get banner 18.

Thanks to Ray, Boston made six more 3-pointers (11-5) while LA had 11 more free throws (31-20). The Celtics had five more rebounds (44-39) and most importantly 10 more assists (28-18). They also had 10 more points in the paint (36-26).

Boston is deeper, plays better defense and they have more late-game options than the Lakers.

Game 3 is tomorrow night.

Kobe and the Lakers steal one from the Celts

With a national audience tuning in on ABC, the Celtics had a chance with a full roster (other than Marquis Daniels-is he still alive?) to show the NBA that they're a dominant team.

Results were mixed as they played well at times (second and third quarter) and fell on their face at the start and in the end when it mattered most.

The Lakers (37-11) walked away with a 90-89 win at the TD Garden yesterday afternoon as Kobe Bryant (19 points, 8-of-20 shooting) hit a contested jumper with 7.3 seconds left to put LA up one and Boston (29-16) could only muster a fadeaway 3-pointer attempt by the buzzer from the ice cold Ray Allen (7 points, 2-of-10 shooting) that bounced harmlessly off the rim.

Kobe is a superstar and even during a bad performance, he still rises up when it matters most and hit the biggest shot of the game. Ray on the other hand, a possible Hall of Famer, is nonetheless rapidly losing his game (shooting) and yet the Celtics seemed to be blind to that fact.

Paul Pierce (15 points), Eddie House (9 points) or Kevin Garnett (10 points) should have taken that shot. Rajon Rondo (21 points, 12 assists, 5 rebounds) was another option since he can get to the basket and was having a great game.

One of the most frustrating parts of the NBA is the late-game reliance on 3-pointers and impossible shots. Why not take it to the basket and force the slimy refs to make a call?

Anyways this turned out to be a much more exciting game than it looked like it would be in the first quarter. The Lakers are at the tail end of a long road trip but you couldn't tell as they jumped out to a 30-19 lead. Andrew Bynum (19 points, 11 rebounds) was a beast inside.

Strangely enough, the Celtics received their biggest spark and stayed in the game based on the contributions from its most up and down player, Tony Allen. His roller coaster game was at its best as he scored 14 points, continually taking it to the hoop against LA's suspect defense.

Rondo also got going with nine points and eight assists in the second quarter alone as the Celts cruised to a 52-47 halftime lead.

Boston outscored LA 21-19 in the third quarter and looked like they had the win in hand after House drained a three to put the Celtics up 11 early in the fourth quarter. However, since its Christmas day win in Orlando, Boston has not been able to handle fourth quarter leads and yesterday was no different as Pau Gasol (11 points, 11 rebounds), Ron Artest (11 points) and the Lakers took the fourth 24-16.

Other than Kobe's clutch shot, a shaky offensive foul on Pierce with the Celts up one and with under a minute left was the second biggest play of the game. It was a weak call at a critical moment but you have to expect that in the NBA and furthermore, the Celtics didn't deserve to win since they crumbled in the fourth quarter.

After losing all three games to Orlando, Atlanta and Los Angeles, the Celts go to DC tonight for what is basically a must-win. The Wizards are bad and Boston needs some type of positive momentum to build on before the All-Star break.