Celtics handle Kobe onslaught and lead LA 3-2
Posted by yangga.8Jun 14
BOSTON (AP)—Paul Pierce is heading back to his hometown, and a second NBA championship could be waiting for him.
A Los Angeles native who has played his entire career with the rival Celtics, Pierce scored 27 points to help Boston withstand 38 points from Kobe Bryant to beat the Lakers 92-86 on Sunday night and move within one victory of an unprecedented 18th NBA title.
The Celtics lead the best-of-seven series 3-2. Game 6 is Tuesday night, and a victory then or in Game 7 in L.A. on Thursday would give Pierce the chance to celebrate in the city where he grew up.
“It’s going to have to happen if we’re going to win the title,” Pierce said. “I mean, that would be great. I’m not going to try to jinx it right now. We’ve got to win one game; that’s the goal. But it would be amazing if we get it done.”
With the “Beat L.A!” chant reverberating through the TD Garden, Kevin Garnett scored 18 points with 10 rebounds and Rajon Rondo had 18 points, eight assists and five rebounds to help Boston become the first team in the series to win two games in a row. If Los Angeles can’t do the same at home, the Celtics will improve to 10-2 against them in the finals, from a 4-0 sweep over the Minneapolis Lakers in 1959 through the Bird-and-Magic era of the ’80s and Boston’s win in ’08.
But Bryant said neither the rivalry nor revenge should be motivating his teammates when they try to stave off elimination at home.
“Just man up and play. What the hell is the big deal?” he said. “If I have to say something to them, then we don’t deserve to be champions. We’re down 3-2: Go home, win one game, go into the next one. Simple as that.”
Bryant was the MVP of the finals last year, when the Lakers beat the Orlando Magic to win their 15th championship. But Pierce earned the honor at his expense in ’08, when the new Big Three beat the Lakers to raise an NBA-record 17th banner to the rafters at Boston’s TD Garden.
Bryant outscored Pierce this time, but the Lakers’ guard got little help from his teammates. And the stretch where he was most dominant was also the time when the Celtics pulled away.
“I wasn’t in a personal duel,” Pierce said. “I didn’t notice that we were going back-and-forth scoring at the time. He’s a tough player. He makes shots.”
Lakers coach Phil Jackson defended Bryant’s attempts to take over the offense.
“He’s the kind of guy (where) you ride the hot hand, that’s for sure,” Jackson said. “We were waiting for him to do that. … He went out there and found a rhythm.”
Bryant did everything he could to send the Lakers home with the edge.
Source: http://sports.yahoo.com
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