Celtics draw level in NBA Finals
June 07, 2010 10:58:00 UK
Los Angeles Lakers 94 Boston Celtics 103Ray Allen scored 27 of his 32 points in the first half with a new record three-point shooting display as the Boston Celtics levelled the NBA finals.
Allen hit a finals record eight three-pointers in the victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in game two in Los Angeles.
Rajon Rondo scored 19 points, had 12 rebounds and ten assists in his fifth play-off triple-double to hand Los Angeles a first home loss of the postseason.
Kobe Bryant notched 21 points while battling more foul trouble for the Lakers in what was the home side's first home play-off loss since last season's Western Conference finals.
Pau Gasol shot for 25 points and picked up eight rebounds for the Lakers, while Andrew Bynum added 21 points and six rebounds ahead of game three on Tuesday night in Boston.
The teams traded the lead throughout the period, but Rondo's heady lay-up put the Celtics ahead 91-90 with 3:21 to play.
Kevin Garnett then hit a jumper and Rondo hit another following a period of strong defence, celebrating in front of a largely silent home crowd who realised the game was being taken away from them by the Celtics.
Rondo enhanced his growing reputation as a major force in these finals with a 10 point fourth quarter.
Foul trouble was again a problem, carrying over from the Lakers' 102-89 opening game victory.
Garnett and Bryant both spent foul time on the bench, with Bryant picking up his fifth foul early in the fourth.
He will look to improve on that statistic next time out and also for a road victory to put the Lakers in front once more in the series.
All lines for Tueday night's clash are currently OTB.
In the Futures market, the LA Lakers are 1.86 to win the series outright, while the Celtics are 1.95.
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