©2011 Galesburg Broadcasting Co.
| Lakers Dominate Celtics; Force Game Seven |
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The Boston Celtics were poised to claim their 18th NBA championship Tuesday night. Instead, they absorbed one of the most embarrassing playoff losses in team history.
Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol each had double-doubles as the Lakers silenced the Celts 89-67 in Los Angeles to force a Game 7 Thursday night. Bryant scored 15 of his 26 points while the Lakers were outscoring the Celtics 51-31 in the first half. He also delivered 11 rebounds while Gasol chipped in 17 points and 13 boards.
The Lakers pulled away after Celtics center Kendrick Perkins suffered a knee injury midway through the first quarter. Without Perkins, Boston was outrebounded 52-39 and outscored by a 2-1 margin on second-chance points.
Boston's point total tied for the second fewest in NBA Finals history. The Celtics shot 33 percent from the field, including a 5-for-23 mark from three-point range.
Ray Allen was the lone Celtic to score more than 13 points, finishing with 19.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) |
|
Read the latest local sports stories by clicking here
