Celtics Clip Champs

Boston buried the L.A. Lakers 103-94 Sunday to even the NBA Finals at one game apiece before the series heads back to Beantown. The Celtics’ Rajon Rondo recorded a triple-double and Ray Allen made an NBA Finals high eight 3-pointers in the Game 2 win. The defending champion Lakers were handed their first home loss of the post-season as Pau Gasol’s 25 points were wasted. Kobe Bryant picked up his fifth foul of the evening during the fourth quarter and finished with a fistful of turnovers. The Celtics snapped a streak and leveled the series in what should be a tight Finals.
Bryant and Andrew Bynum collected 21 points each in defeat but Boston’s big, dynamic guards battered the Lakers throughout the game. Allen notched seven treys in the first half alone and knotted an eighth in the third quarter to break the NBA record. Rondo’s offensive rebounding overwhelmed Phil Jackson’s squad. Los Angeles’ presence up front couldn’t contain sharpshooting Rondo and Allen, whose hustle and vivacity were visible in Game 2. The physical game featured 29 fouls by each team for a combined total of 59. L.A.’s Rashard Wallace was charged with his third personal foul in the second quarter. Glen David and Kevin Garnett did likewise for Boston. There were six lead changes in the first quarter, but Boston held the advantage from late in the first quarter to midway in the third. Allen went 11-for-20 from the field to finish with a game high 32 points. Rondo grabbed 12 rebounds in a 19 point affair, while leading all players with 10 assists. The explosive point guard carried the Celtics in the second half after Allen cooled down a bit. The Celtics clogged the paint with 36 points, ten more than their opponents. Boston peppered the perimeter and drained their free throws during the first half. The Lakers answered late in the second quarter by trimming the lead to nine and going down low to Gasol and Bynum.
Boston watched their lead fall to six points seconds before halftime after Bryant connected from downtown. The Lakers outscored Boston24-18 in the third quarter and tied the game at 72-72 headed into the final session. Los Angeles benefited from 41 free-throw attempts but were sorely beaten down the stretch without Bryant. Nate Robinson boosted Boston off the bench with seven points in the fourth quarter during a six minute stretch. Garnett helped push the Celtics’ lead with a late three at the 2:40 mark. Garnett completed the night with six points, four rebounds and four assists. Rondo was successful on all shots in the final six minutes of the game to silence the Staples Center crowd. Lamar Odom logged less than 15 minutes for the Lakers and had more fouls than points. Los Angeles’ outside shooting was not good enough. Ron Artest played solid in defending Paul Pierce but went just one-for –ten on offense. Game 3 of this even series is Tuesday night in Boston.
Parting Points: It’s not too surprising Rafael Nadal won his fifth French Open.