Dec

25

Lakers Put Coal In Celtics Stocking With 92-83 Win

Posted by Jeff Sack under NBA Game Recap 

The Los Angeles Lakers ended the Boston Celtics winning streak at 19 straight wins Thursday, as the defeated the Celtics in a rematch of the 2008 NBA Finals 92-83. The Christmas day match up at the Staples Center was the first game between the two teams since Boston defeated the Lakers in six games to win the NBA Championship. Kobe Bryant led all players with a game high 27 points, it was only the third loss for Boston this season. The 19 game winning streak by the “Green Team” was the longest in franchise history.

The two teams played a tight first quarter with the Celtics clinging to a razor thin 24-23 lead at the end of the period. Los Angeles would score the first 2 points of the second on a long outside shot by Kobe with 11:29 left in the period to take the lead 25-24. They would hold the lead the entire quarter, and would walk into the locker room at the half. The Lakers led for most of the third until Ray Allen drove the lane putting the ball through the cylinder tying the game at 62-62 with 4:03 remaining. On their next possession Boston would take the lead 64-62, when Paul Pierce hit a mid-range jump shot with 3:31 to play. The lead was short lived however, and at the end of three quarters the team from the City of Angels led 71-67. The Celtics were able to tie the score twice in the final 12 minutes, but could never gain the lead, and the Lakers pulled away in the game’s closing minutes.

Kobe Bryant had a game high 27 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 steal, in the Los Angeles victory. Pau Gasol scored 20 points, 5 assists, 3 blocks, 3 rebounds, and 1 steal, while Lamar Odom came off the bench and put up 10 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks, and 2 steals. Sasha Vujacic also chipped in with 10 points, off of the bench, and 2 rebounds.

The Celtics wereb led by Kevin Garnett who scored 22 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal. Paul Pierce recorded a double-double, 20 points, 10 boards, 3 assists, and 1 steal, while Ray Allen added 14 points, 3 assists, 1 rebound, and 1 steal. Los Angeles improves to 24-5, they will host Golden State on Sunday, Boston is now 27-3, they travel up the coast to play the Warriors Friday.

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