Lakers keep NBA dream alive
Lamar Odom contributed 20 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks for LA, while Pau Gasol also bagged 19 points, 13 rebounds and six assists.
But it was Bryant who produced the game’s pivotal play as Boston, for whom Paul Pierce poured in 38 points including 12 in the fourth quarter, threatened a comeback late in the game.
Boston had closed to within two points at 97-95 and were in possession when Bryant stole the ball from Pierce, before racing down the other end of the court to nail a breakaway dunk with 37 seconds remaining and maintain the Lakers’ slim title hopes.
Phil Jackson’s team now trail 3-2 in the best-of-seven series and must capture the next two games in Boston – where the Celtics are 12-1 in this season’s play-offs – beginning with Game Six tonight.
No team in NBA history has comeback from 3-1 down and since the league switched to the 2-3-2 Finals format in 1985, no team has won the last two games away from home.
With a crushing Game Four loss – in which they blew a record 24-point lead - fresh in their minds, the Lakers came dangerously close to repeating the trick as they allowed the Celtics to claw their way back from a 19-point deficit in the first-half.
Los Angeles had quickly established a 17-point lead in the first quarter thanks to Bryant, who drained four three-pointers en route to 15 points in the period and extended that advantage to 19 less than a minute into the second quarter.
However, the Celtics dug in and only trailed by three after Pierce’s shot from the arc just before the half-time buzzer.
They levelled the encounter at 60-60 with 9:08 left in the third before taking their first lead of the night on the following possession, courtesy of Rajon Rondo’s jumper from the wing.
The Lakers fought back and Bryant’s basket with 9:16 remaining gave them Lakers an 11-point lead, before the Celtics answered with an 11-0 run of their own over the next five minutes to tie the encounter at 90-90 after Kevin Garnett’s jumper. The Celtics remained within two points but failed to capitalise on opportunities in the dying minutes as Garnett missed a pair of free throws with 2:31 left before Pierce turned the ball over on Bryant’s crucial play.
Pierce had made it 97-95 with a pair of free throws and, following a Lakers miss, proceeded up the court where he had the ball poked away from behind by Bryant, who then received Odom’s pass for an uncontested dunk and a four-point lead.
Odom then made sure of the result with a pair of late free throws, as the Los Angeles outfit lived to fight another day.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
