As usual, Kobe Bryant led the Lakers offensively in Game 3 of the NBA finals. But it was veteran Derek Fisher who stepped up in the fourth period to keep Los Angeles on top.
Bryant scored 29 points, Fisher scored 11 of his 16 in the fourth quarter and the Lakers beat the Celtics 91-84 in Boston Tuesday night.
Kevin Garnett was the Celtics’ lone offensive bright spot, scoring 25 points – more than he had in Games 1 and 2 combined. But one game after hitting a finals-record eight 3-pointers, Ray Allen scored just 2 points, going 0-for-13 from the field, and Paul Pierce was again unspectacular, shooting 5-for-12 and pouring in 15.Los Angeles was in control most of the night, but Boston made things interesting in the fourth period. Down six to begin the final frame, Glen Davis scored twice for the Celtics after a free throw by L.A.’s Pau Gasol, and Game 2 hero Rajon Rondo made a layup to cut Boston’s deficit to 68-67 with 9:45 left.
But the Celtics couldn’t quite come all the way back. Fisher answered with a drive in the lane, Lamar Odom scored on a putback and Fisher scored three straight Lakers baskets to go up 78-73.
Boston cut the L.A. lead back down to two points with a Pierce 3 and two Garnett baskets, but Bryant sank a jumper and Fisher completed an and-1 in transition to open up a seven-point lead. Pierce made a layup, but Sasha Vujacic and Bryant canned two each from the line to secure the win.
Boston went up early 12-5 with three baskets apiece from Garnett and Rondo, but the Lakers took control with a 21-5 run to close the first quarter. Bryant scored seven points during the run, Odom banked home a 3-pointer and added an and-1 in transition, and Gasol scored four. Even Luke Walton and Shannon Brown scored to get in on the fun, and Los Angeles led 26-17 at the end of the first.
L.A. kept the heat on to begin the second period, opening up a 17-point advantage. Bryant made an old-fashioned 3-point play, Brown sank a jumper, Andrew Bynum hit a turnaround and Jordan Farmar and Odom made layups to go on top 37-20. The Lakers held a 52-40 lead at the break.
Bryant didn’t especially well from the field, hitting 10 of 29 field goals. But Odom had by far his best game of the series, totaling 12 points. Gasol had his customary double-double, scoring 13 points with 13 rebounds. Bynum pulled down 10 boards as well.
Davis scored 12 points and Rondo added 11 for the Celtics.
Game 4 is Thursday night in Boston.
NOTES: Garnett hit just two field goals in Game 2 but scored Boston’s first three from the field Tuesday. … Allen was one missed field goal shy of the worst shooting performance in finals history.
BOX SCORE
Photo above: Los Angeles' Derek Fisher, right, shoots over Boston's Rasheed Wallace during Game 3 Tuesday. (Elsa/Getty Images)
Video credit – ESPN on ABC
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