Celtics-Lakers: Kobe Pumps in 36 as L.A. Gets Back in the Series

Back in familiar surroundings on his home floor, Kobe Bryant got off to a fast start, leading the Lakers to a good team-win in Game Three of the NBA Finals. The season was on the line in a must-win game for the Lakers, and Kobe wasn't going to be denied.

Bryant was close enough to his MVP form, and Lakers reserve Sasha Vujacic was huge, scoring 20 points off of the Lakers bench in the 87-81 Laker win.

Kobe set the tone early for the Lakers, being aggressive and forcing the issue with an array of spin moves, drives, off-balance shots, and picture perfect jumpers, getting Boston into the penalty early and going to the foul line.

However, the Lakers missed far too many of those free throws.

The Lakers got off to an early lead in the first quarter, but a 13-3 Celtics run brought them back. The score was knotted at 20 at end of the quarter. Ray Allen led the Celtics in scoring, and finished with 25 points.

This was a game that saw both teams playing good defense, The Lakers were the aggressors and the Celtics missed several shots and couldn't match the Lakers intensity.

The Lakers took the lead with a Kobe Bryant 14-footer—the lead got up to as many as 10 points. The Lakers were up nine points with no contribution from Pau Gasol or Lamar Odom. The score at the half was 43-37 Lakers. The lead could’ve easily been in double digits had the Lakers not missed nine free throws.

The third quarter started with Kevin Garnett missing a nine-foot shot, and then Rajon Rondo sprained his ankle and he was down. I wasn’t alone looking toward the Celtic bench to see if the infamous wheel chair made the trip to Los Angeles.

Rondo had his ankle re-taped in the locker room and made it back to the bench, no wheel chair needed. The Celtics went on a 15-3 run to take a 62-60 lead at the end of the third quarter. The Celtics were 12 minutes away from a commanding 3-0 lead in the series.

The fourth quarter began with a Sasha Vujacic 25-foot three pointer; it was answered by a Ray Allen 23-foot three pointer. The score was 66-64 when Jordan Farmar drew a charging call on Paul Pierce, who was in foul trouble all game and finished with six points.

Sasha Vujacic knocked down a 22-foot jumper to tie the score at 66. James Posey was fouled by Luke Walton, and he knocked down both free throws for Boston’s last lead. The Lakers regained the lead on Kobe Bryant’s 25-foot three pointer.

After a Rajon Rondo jumper and four free throws by Derek Fisher and Kobe Bryant, the Lakers led 73-70.

Lamar Odom, who has been in foul trouble for three straight games, made two aggressive drives to the basket and missed, but Pau Gasol was there for two huge putbacks or second-chance baskets that pushed the Lakers lead to 77-72.

The Lakers were not out of the woods yet, though, before Pau Gasol was fouled by P.J. Brown, and as if it was the theme for the night, made one of the two free throws.

The Celtics scored four points on two Paul Pierce free throws and a Kevin Garnett seven-footer to bring Boston within two points.

The next trip down the court Vujacic missed a 24-foot three pointer, but after a Celtics miss he had the opportunity to redeem himself and put the game away, which he did with a 23-foot three pointer, 81-76 Lakers.

Derek Fisher knocked down two free throws and Kobe Bryant scored twice to finish off the Celtics and close the show on Game Three. 

This was an exciting game that went down to the wire. I expected to see some Lakers adjustments and Kobe Bryant leading by example and will his team back into this series.

The Lakers didn’t play their best game of the playoffs, but still got the win. The Lakers bench outplayed the Celtics bench mainly because of Sasha Vujacic’s coming out party.

Jordon Farmar’s all-around contribution was bigger than the five points he scored.

We now have a series. The Lakers will need to make more adjustments on Thursday night in Game Four to tie the series at two games apiece.