NBA Finals Gameday
The Los Angeles Lakers couldn't hold on to a huge lead on Thursday night, and as a result the Boston Celtics will get a chance to claim the championship on Sunday night.
Los Angeles entered Thursday's Game 4 with a chance to tie up the best-of-seven NBA Finals at two games piece. The Lakers had forced their way back into the set with an 87-81 home win in Game 3 on Tuesday night. Kobe Bryant was finally a force in that contest, scoring a game-high 36 points and grabbing seven rebounds in the big victory.
That made the Lakers big favorites to get a second straight home win in Game 4, and they certainly played like the better team in the first quarter. Led by a strong opening frame from maligned forward Lamar Odom, the Lakers got out to a quick 35-14 lead before many of the Los Angeles fans even had a chance to settle into their pricey seats.
From there, though, it was all downhill for Bryant and company. The Celtics played their opponents almost even in the second quarter, and then outscored them 31-15 in the third frame. That still had Los Angeles in the lead heading into the fourth quarter, but the Lakers could not hold back the Celtics' offense and eventually fell by a score of 97-91.
Paul Pierce poured in a game-high 20 points in the win for Boston, while also picking up seven assists. Ray Allen was good for 19 points and nine boards on the night, while Kevin Garnett tossed in 16 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for the Celtics in the victory
James Posey picked up 18 points off the bench for Boston, while Rajon Rondo was held to just five points in 17 minutes of action - Rondo had been questionable to play in the contest because of a sore ankle. Kendrick Perkins had just two points in 13 minutes on the floor - he had to leave the game in the third quarter because of a strained shoulder.
Bryant was held to just 17 points and 10 assists in the loss, while Pau Gasol picked up 17 points and 10 rebounds. Odom had a team-high 19 points on the night, but 15 of those points came in the first half. Derek Fisher chipped in with 13 points in the defeat.
So now Boston has a commanding 3-1 lead in the series heading into Game 5 on Sunday night (with the tip-off once again set for 9:00pm ET).
Still, the oddsmakers think the Lakers have at least a little bit of life left in them, as they were opened as 7-point home favorites to force a Game 6. The total for the contest was opened at 190.5 points.
If the Lakers manage to pull out a victory at home in Game 5 on Sunday the two teams will go back to Boston for Game 6 on Tuesday night. A deciding Game 7, should it come to that, would be played on Thursday night. Los Angeles would make history if they mounted a huge comeback - a 3-1 deficit has never been overcome in the NBA Finals.
