Celtics peg back the Lakers in Game Four
June 11, 2010 09:38:29 UK
Boston Celtics 96 Los Angeles Lakers 89The Boston Celtics came from behind in the fourth quarter to beat the Los Angeles Lakers 96-89 levelling the NBA finals at 2-2.
The Celtics trailed by two points going into the last period but won it 36-27 to prevent the Lakers from pulling clear in the series.
Kobe Bryant scored 33 points for the Lakers but, despite another disappointing showing from Ray Allen, the Celtics refused to throw in the towel.
Paul Pierce top-scored for the hosts with 19 points.
Boston established a 19-16 lead after the first quarter, but Los Angeles turned the game around in the next to establish a 45-42 lead after the second.
The Lakers were left to rue the injury to starting centre Andrew Bynum, though, who struggled to play with a torn meniscus.
He was barely on the court in the second half of the match and the Celtics took advantage to level the best-of-seven Finals series.
Glen Davis played a key role in helping the Celtics claim victory, scoring nine of his 18 points in the final quarter.
Kevin Garnett added 13 points, while Allen - who had a record eight three-pointers in game two only to miss all eight of his three-point efforts and all five two-pointers last time out - improved a little as the contest wore on to finish with 12 points, ten coming in the second half.
Pau Gasol also notched 21 points for the Lakers.
Game five is on Sunday night in Boston.
You can back the LA Lakers to win the series at 1.86, with the Celtics available at 1.95.
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