The last time the Lakers and the Celtics met in an NBA finals game, Boston embarrassed L.A. to clinch its 17th NBA title in Game 6 in 2008.
Yes, it was only Game 1, but on Thursday night, the defending champion Lakers returned the favor.
Kobe Bryant led all scorers with 30 points and Pau Gasol scored 28 in a double-double as the Lakers took Game 1 102-89 in Los Angeles.
The Celtics never led after Rajon Rondo scored the first points of the game, and the Lakers bullied Boston down low, outscoring the Celtics 48-30 in the paint and winning the rebound battle 42-31.The Lakers – who are 9-0 at home during the playoffs – and Celtics are each seeking their second title in three years. Boston downed Los Angeles in six games in 2008, and the Lakers returned to the finals last season, defeating Orlando in five games.
L.A. was dominant most of the night, culminating with a 12-2 third-quarter run to open up a 20-point lead. Bryant slammed home an alley-oop feed from Derek Fisher, the Lakers hit eight of nine free throws and Ron Artest nailed a 3-pointer to put Los Angeles on top 84-64 heading into the fourth quarter.
Late in the second period, the Lakers had turned a two-point edge into nine when Gasol canned a jumper and Artest nailed a 3 and scored in transition to go up 44-35. Los Angeles led 50-41 at halftime after Rondo’s fadeaway jumper at the buzzer.
Artest scored 15 points for the Lakers, while Andrew Bynum added 10. Gasol pulled down 14 rebounds.
Paul Pierce scored 24 to lead Boston. Kevin Garnett scored 16, Rondo added 13 and Ray Allen netted 12.
Game 2 is Sunday night in Los Angeles.
NOTES: The Lakers are now 29-3 in the last three seasons in home playoff games. … Boston has won nine of the teams’ 11 finals series. … This is the fourth time the last two champions have met in the finals.
BOX SCORE
Photo above: Los Angeles' Kobe Bryant, right, drives on Boston's Tony Allen Thursday night. (Mike Blake/Reuters)
Video credit – ESPN on ABC
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