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Celtics Vs. Lakers: Kobe Bryant’s 26 Leads L.A. Over Boston

Mar 11, 2012, 10:34 PM UTC

Kobe Bryant scored 26, including 10 in the fourth quarter, and Andrew Bynum added 20 points with 14 rebounds to help the Lakers down the visiting Celtics, 97-94.

The Lakers led for most of the game before allowing the Celtics to take a 94-89 lead with just under three minutes left in the game. The Celtics wouldn’t score again, though, as Bryant hit two shots and assisted on another to take back the lead. Bynum put the finishing touches on the game in the final seconds, hitting a six-foot hook shot and blocking a shot on the other end.

Rajon Rondo led the Celtics with 24 points and 10 assists while Ray Allen added 17 and six. Los Angeles native Paul Pierce, meanwhile, was held to just 13 points on 4-of-14 shooting. Kevin Garnett scored 14 with 11 rebounds, while Brandon Bass chipped in 15 and eight.

The Lakers jumped ahead to a 10-point lead after the first quarter, but the Celtics fought back in the second quarter to enter halftime trailing by only two. After playing to a draw in the third quarter, the Lakers outscored Boston by one in the final frame.

With the win, the Lakers improved to 25-16 to take a half-game lead for the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. That could change later Sunday evening, though, as the No. 4 Clippers host the Warriors. The Celtics fell to 21-19 and are still mired in seventh place in the East.

For more on these two teams, be sure to check out CelticsBlog, SB Nation Boston, Lakers blog Silver Screen And Roll and SB Nation Los Angeles.

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