Celtics Hold On To Defeat The Lakers; Kobe Sits Again

Read more at CelticsBlog and our Lakers blog Silver Screen and Roll.

Ray Allen scored a game-best 24 points and Boston held on to down the Lakers, 87-86, to hand Los Angeles its first loss in five games without Bryant.

Bryant continues to struggle with a sprained left ankle and an injury to the tendon outside the lower left leg. The Lakers missed him surely in the clutch, as Derek Fisher was called on to fire the last shot, a jumper under pressure that didn't even draw iron from the high right elbow as time expired.

Kendrick Perkins notched a double-double with 13 points and 14 rebounds, Kevin Garnett added 13 points and eight boards, Rajon Rondo donated 14 points and 11 assists and Paul Pierce netted 11 points with six boards and four assists. Boston snapped a three-game skid to the Lakers and won its second straight overall.

The Celtics won despite scoring just 11 points in the final stanza.

Pau Gasol scored 22 points with seven rebounds, Ron Artest added 15 points and eight rebounds for the Lakers. Andrew Bynum totaled 14 points and nine rebounds, and Lamar Odom compiled 13 points and 14 rebounds.