Mon Jun 16 00:24:53 2008

Comment | Email | Print

Bryant, Lakers avoid another collapse, stay alive with Game 5 win

---

Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Kobe Bryant scored 25 points and, despite struggling after the first quarter, and with the Lakers squandering leads of 19 and 14 points, Los Angeles stayed alive with a 103-98 win over the Boston Celtics in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

The Lakers overcame a 38-point performance by Boston's Paul Pierce, and trail three games to two in the best-of-seven set.

Lamar Odom scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, and Pau Gasol had 19 points and 13 boards for the Lakers, who nearly re-enacted their epic collapse in Game 4, when they led by 24 points in the first half only to lose, 97-91, and fall into a 1-3 hole in the series.

Derek Fisher added 15 points for Los Angeles, which is trying to become the first team to win the NBA Finals after trailing three games to one. Teams trailing 3-1 are 0-28 all-time in the Finals.

Ray Allen scored 16 points on 4-of-13 shooting, and Kevin Garnett had 13 points with a game-high 14 rebounds while struggling with foul trouble. The Celtics played without starting center Kendrick Perkins, who sat with a strained left shoulder. Point guard Rajon Rondo was limited to three points in just over 14 1/2 minutes by a bone bruise in his left ankle.

The Celtics will get another chance to lock up the 17th title in franchise in history, and the first since 1986, on Tuesday in front of their hometown crowd. Boston is 12-1 thus far in the postseason on its home floor, where they won the first two games of this series.