SB Nation Boston - Celtics Vs. Lakers: Paul Pierce, Boston Beat L.A., 109-96, At Staples Centerhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48863/boston-fave.png2011-01-30T18:45:42-05:00http://boston.sbnation.com/rss/stream/17284232011-01-30T18:45:42-05:002011-01-30T18:45:42-05:00Boston 109 , Los Angeles 96: Paul Pierce, Celtics Beat Lakers
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<p>Paul Pierce scored 32 points as the Boston Celtics beat the Los Angeles Lakers, 109-96, in a rematch of the 2010 NBA Finals at the Staples Center on Sunday afternoon. Pierce made 11-of-18 shots, as well as 3-of-5 threes and 7-of-7 free throws, and collected five rebounds in 39 minutes for Boston.</p>
<p>This was the first meeting between the Celtics and Lakers since last year's NBA Finals, in which Los Angeles prevailed, 4-3, in seven games. The Lakers are now 18-7 in games at the Staples Center this season.</p>
<p>Ray Allen scored 21 points and Kevin Garnett added 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Celtics (36-11). Rajon Rondo finished with 10 points and 16 assists in a game-high 41 minutes. Glen Davis scored 13 and Nate Robinson added 11 off the bench for Boston.</p>
<p>Kobe Bryant tied a season-high with 41 points for Los Angeles (33-15). Pau Gasol amassed 12 points and seven rebounds and Andrew Bynum added 11 points and six boards. Lamar Odom scored 15 points and grabbed five rebounds off the bench for L.A. </p>
<p>Boston made 44-of-73 shots (60.3%) and 9-of-17 three pointers (52.9%) while Los Angeles drained 36-of-81 field goals (44.4%) and 4-of-9 shots beyond the arc (44.4%). The Celtics finished with a plus-13 advantage in rebounding (43-30) and totaled 34 assists, five steals and four blocks while turning the ball over 13 times.</p>
<p>The Lakers amassed 10 assists, six steals, four blocks, 22 personal fouls and turned the ball over eight times.</p>
<p>Boston outscored Los Angeles, 22-21, in the opening quarter. The Lakers battled back to take a 54-50 halftime lead, but Pierce's 14-point third quarter was enough to give the Celtics a 77-72 advantage heading into the fourth quarter. The Celtics sealed the deal in the final quarter, outscoring L.A., 32-34, to take the first of two games against the Lakers this season.</p>
<p>The Celtics return to action on Tuesday night when they face the Sacramento Kings at Arco Arena. Los Angeles plays Houston in its next game on Tuesday night at the Staples Center.</p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/boston-celtics/2011/1/30/1964907/boston-celtics-los-angeles-lakers-nba-scores-paul-pierce-kevin-garnett-kobe-bryant-game-recap-jan-30Gethin Coolbaugh2011-01-30T17:41:17-05:002011-01-30T17:41:17-05:00Celtics Vs. Lakers: Paul Pierce, Boston Leads L.A., 77-72, After Third Quarter
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<p><span>Paul Pierce</span> scored 14 of his 30 points in the third quarter as the <a href="https://www.celticsblog.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Boston Celtics</a> took a 77-72 lead over the <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Los Angeles Lakers</a> into the fourth quarter at the Staples Center.</p>
<p><span>Ray Allen</span> has 13 points and <span>Kevin Garnett</span> has 10 points and 11 rebounds. <span>Rajon Rondo</span> has six points and seven assists and <span>Glen Davis</span> has six points off the bench for Boston.</p>
<p><span>Kobe Bryant</span> also has 30 points for Los Angeles. <span>Pau Gasol</span> has 12 points and six rebounds and <span>Andrew Bynum</span> has 11 points and five rebounds through three quarters. <span>Lamar Odom</span> has eight points and <span>Derek Fisher</span> has five points.</p>
<p>Boston is shooting a very impressive 56.6% while Los Angeles is shooting 43.3% through three quarters.</p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/boston-celtics/2011/1/30/1964882/celtics-vs-lakers-nba-scores-paul-pierce-kobe-bryant-third-quarter-updateGethin Coolbaugh2011-01-30T16:54:08-05:002011-01-30T16:54:08-05:00Celtics Vs. Lakers: Los Angeles Leads Boston, 54-50, At Halftime
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<p><span>Kobe Bryant</span> scored 22 first-half points and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Los Angeles Lakers</a> leads the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">Boston Celtics</a>, 54-50, at halftime at the Staples Center.</p>
<p><span>Pau Gasol</span>, <span>Andrew Bynum</span> and <span>Lamar Odom</span> all had eight points a piece for Los Angeles. <span>Ron Artest</span> and <span>Derek Fisher</span> each had three points.</p>
<p><span>Paul Pierce</span> had 16 points to lead Boston. <span>Kevin Garnett</span>, who suffered a minor head injury midway through the second quarter, had six points, five rebounds and four assists.</p>
<p><span>Ray Allen</span> had nine points, <span>Glen Davis</span> totaled six points and <span>Nate Robinson</span> added five points for the Celtics.</p>
<p>Boston shot 51.4% from the floor while L.A. made 38.8% of its shots in the first half.</p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/boston-celtics/2011/1/30/1964812/celtics-vs-lakers-nba-scores-kobe-bryant-kevin-garnett-halftime-updateGethin Coolbaugh2011-01-30T16:32:49-05:002011-01-30T16:32:49-05:00Celtics Vs. Lakers: Kevin Garnett Leaves Game In Second Quarter
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<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">Celtics</a> forward <span>Kevin Garnett</span> left the game with 6:29 remaining in the second quarter after being hit with an elbow by <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Lakers</a> forward <span>Pau Gasol</span>.</p>
<p>Garnett, who was bleeding, was tended to by Celtics’ trainer Eddie Lacerte before eventually heading to the locker room. He had four points, five rebounds and three assists in 11 minutes before his injury.</p>
<p>Fortunately, Garnett returned to the game with 4:44 left in the second quarter. <span class="caps">ESPN</span> reported that he will receive stitches after the game.</p>
<p>Boston currently leads Los Angeles, 42-36, with four minutes remaining in the first half.</p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/boston-celtics/2011/1/30/1964784/celtics-vs-lakers-kevin-garnett-head-injury-nba-newsGethin Coolbaugh2011-01-30T16:18:24-05:002011-01-30T16:18:24-05:00Celtics Vs. Lakers: Boston Leads L.A., 22-21, After First Quarter
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<p><span>Paul Pierce</span> scored 10 points and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">Boston Celtics</a> jumped out to a 22-21 lead over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Los Angeles Lakers</a> after one quarter at the Staples Center.</p>
<p><span>Kevin Garnett</span> and <span>Ray Allen</span> both had four points in the first quarter. <span>Rajon Rondo</span> and <span>Kendrick Perkins</span> each scored two points in the opening quarter for Boston.</p>
<p><span>Andrew Bynum</span> had seven points to lead the Lakers. <span>Kobe Bryant</span> scored five points and <span>Lamar Odom</span> added four points for Los Angeles</p>
<p>Boston made 9-of-18 shots in the opening quarter while Los Angeles hit 8-of-20 field goals.</p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/boston-celtics/2011/1/30/1964761/celtics-vs-lakers-boston-nba-scores-first-quarter-updateGethin Coolbaugh2011-01-30T14:41:15-05:002011-01-30T14:41:15-05:00Celtics Vs. Lakers: Rebounding May Be The Key For Boston
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<p>If there's one specific area the Celtics need to capitalize on in their matinée match-up with the Lakers on Sunday afternoon, it's rebounding.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.celticsblog.com/" target="_blank">CelticsBlog</a> seconds this notion, but thinks that in order for the Celtics to be successful on Sunday, they will need to put the past behind them.</p>
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<p>And by rebound, I mean... rebound. Forget the Suns game. The C's were never into that game and thus were never in the game. They will be in this one. They'll be up for it and down for anything. Let us just hope they can rebound well enough to pull it off. <a href="http://www.celticsblog.com/2011/1/29/1963275/celtics-look-to-rebound-against-lakers" target="_blank">(via CelticsBlog)</a></p>
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<p>Paul Flannery of WEEI also believes that rebounding should be Boston's number one focus against the Lakers.</p>
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<p>This point can't be stressed enough. The Celtics lost the NBA championship because they were a poor rebounding team and in Game 7 the Lakers grabbed 23 offensive rebounds. Maybe Kendrick Perkins would have made a difference, but this was a season-long issue for the Celtics and it caught up with them at the worst possible moment. <a href="http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/basketball/celtics/paul-flannery/2011/01/29/how-celtics-can-beat-la" target="_blank">(via WEEI.com)</a></p>
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<p>CelticsBlog also points out that the return of Kendrick Perkins, who suffered a devastating knee injury in Game 6 of the 2010 NBA Finals, may be critical for Boston. Nevertheless, they expect both teams to bring their "A" game.</p>
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<p>Two things that could be going for us this weekend are the return of Perkins and the revenge factor. It is really impossible to overstate how much these teams want to beat each other, even in a regular season game. <a href="http://www.celticsblog.com/2011/1/29/1963275/celtics-look-to-rebound-against-lakers" target="_blank">(via CelticsBlog)</a></p>
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https://boston.sbnation.com/boston-celtics/2011/1/30/1964574/boston-celtics-los-angeles-lakers-nba-finals-2010-kendrick-perkinsGethin Coolbaugh2011-01-30T12:21:37-05:002011-01-30T12:21:37-05:00Celtics Vs. Lakers: Marquee Matinee Matchup As Boston Seeks Revenge In L.A.
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">Boston Celtics</a> continue one of sports' greatest rivalries Sunday afternoon when they pay a visit to <span>Kobe Bryant</span> and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Los Angeles Lakers</a>. It will be the first meeting between the Celtics and Lakers since Game 7 of last season's NBA Finals, where Los Angeles took home its 16th championship (they now trail only the Celtics' 17 titles). </p>
<p>Boston will debut Shaquille O'Neal in front of his former team, and also have <span>Kendrick Perkins</span> back in the rotation (he was missed Game 7 after injuring his knee in Game 6). Though the return of Shaq is not too important, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/events/64224/preview?article_id=139037">says his former teammate</a>, Kobe Bryant: "I don't think it's too weird. I don't really hold too much significance to the fact that he's playing with the Celtics. I don't think Lakers fans as a whole are. I don't think its that big of a deal."</p>
<p>Similarly, the Celtics' <span>Rajon Rondo</span> is doing his part to downplay Sunday's meeting, saying, "It's just another game." But <a href="http://www.celticsblog.com/2011/1/30/1964148/celtics-lakers-not-your-average-regular-season-game">CelticsBlog</a> knows better: </p>
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<p>[The Celtics] remember the pain better than anyone. They're the ones who will revisit the Staples Center locker room today, the same locker room where tears poured down their faces and thoughts of "what if?" raced through their heads. They're the ones who will step onto the Staples Center court, where, the last time the Celtics played there, Bill Russell handed Kobe Bryant the Finals MVP Award while confetti rained down from the rafters.</p>
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<p>A quick look at the Celtics' roster and their offseason moves would indicate they have one goal this season: Beat L.A. </p>
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<p>The Celtics are already different than last season, in so many ways. <span>Kevin Garnett</span> regained the full use of his leg. <span>Paul Pierce</span>, the same ... <span>Glen Davis</span> has become a more consistent force on both ends of the court, and Kendrick Perkins returned (quite quickly, I might add) with a healthy gait, not to mention a chip on his shoulder as big as a brick or a boulder. Add 21 feet of centers ... and the Celtics, though possessing the same nucleus as last season, have taken on an entirely different look. An improved look, I'd say. The look of a team designed almost solely to beat the Los Angeles Lakers.</p>
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<p>The Celtics, on top of the Eastern Conference at 35-11, and the Lakers, second seed in the West at 33-14, tip at 3:30 p.m. EST, on ABC. </p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/2011/1/30/2328876/celtics-vs-lakers-marquee-matinee-matchup-as-boston-seeks-revenge-inRyan Hudson