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NBA: Lakers put end to Boston’s 19-game win streak
By John Nadel, AP Sports Writer
Friday, December 26, 2008 | No comments posted.
LOS ANGELES — For the Los Angeles Lakers, it was a bit of payback.
But in the big picture, little more.
Kobe Bryant had 27 points, nine rebounds and five assists, Pau Gasol scored seven of his 20 points in the final 3 minutes, and the Lakers beat Boston 92-83 on Thursday, snapping the Celtics’ franchise-record winning streak at 19.
“It was a good measuring stick to show how much we have progressed since the finals,” Bryant said. “They are a team that has been playing so well. But at the same time, they did win 19 in a row, so they were due.”
The game was the first between the teams since the Celtics’ 131-92 victory in Game 6 of the finals last June gave them their first title in 22 years and a league-high 17th.
“We definitely wanted to do well against a team that is doing great,” Lakers forward Lamar Odom said. “We won’t get them back until we can beat them in a series.”
The victory was the 1,000th for Los Angeles coach Phil Jackson. The 63-year-old Jackson, the sixth NBA coach to reach the mark, is 1,000-423 in 17-plus seasons with Chicago and the Lakers. Pat Riley was the previous fastest to 1,000, doing it in 1,434 games.
“I can guarantee you that I won’t win 1,000 games because I won’t be around that long,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. “It’s just an amazing number.”
The Celtics entered with a 27-2 record — the best ever start by a two-loss team. They were in position to make it 28-2 when Kevin Garnett dunked off a feed from Rajon Rondo to put them ahead 81-79 with 3:57 left. But the Lakers finished with a 13-2 run.
The Lakers outscored the Celtics 21-16 in the fourth quarter. Boston shot 8-of-19 and was 0-for-7 on 3-pointers in the final period.
“I’m really happy with Pau,” Jackson said. “He stepped up in that fourth quarter and we really needed him.”
Lamar Odom had 10 points and seven rebounds, and Sasha Vujacic also scored 10 points for the Lakers (24-5), who won their 12th straight game at home, where they’re 15-1. Andrew Bynum had nine points and seven rebounds.
“They played great, give them credit,” Rivers said. “For a team that has been phenomenal down a stretch of games, I didn’t think we were very good tonight. We’ve been as composed as any team that I’ve seen in a long time, and I thought, quite honestly, that we lost it a little bit at the end.”
Garnett shot 11-of-14 in leading the Celtics with 22 points and nine rebounds. Paul Pierce had 20 points and 10 rebounds, but was scoreless in the fourth quarter. Ray Allen scored 14 points, but went 2-of-11 after making his first three shots.
Gasol made all three of his shots and all three of his free throws in the fourth quarter for nine of his team’s 21 points.
“We were pretty physical,” Gasol said. “We were able to contain them, keep our poise and finish the game off. I had to make sure I took it to them, not settle for easy jumpers. I’m glad I was able to get over that hump of a slow start.
“It shows we can beat anybody. Hopefully, we’ll build on it.”
Gasol’s 15-foot jumper with 2:48 left snapped an 81-all tie and put the Lakers ahead for good. Allen’s 3-pointer failed, and Gasol scored from close range with 2 minutes left to put Los Angeles up by four.
Garnett answered with a jumper to draw the Celtics within two, but Gasol’s three-point play with 1:28 left put the Lakers on top 88-83. Gasol then blocked Allen’s 3-pointer, setting up Trevor Ariza for a dunk that gave Los Angeles a seven-point lead with 1:12 to go. Bryant’s basket completed the scoring.
“Losing is losing, man,” Garnett said. “It doesn’t matter who it is. We hadn’t lost in a while, but today I felt like we missed assignments and had some miscommunication, things that we’re known for.”
Cavaliers 93, Wizards 89
At Cleveland, Mo Williams had 24 points, and Cleveland scored 11 straight points in the final 1:33 to improve to 15-0 at home.
LeBron James and Delonte West had 18 apiece for the Cavs, the NBA’s lone unbeaten team at home. Antawn Jamison scored 28 points, and Mike James had 26 for Washington. The Wizards have lost eight straight.
Spurs 91, Suns 90
At Phoenix, Roger Mason hit a 3-pointer from the corner at the buzzer to give San Antonio its fourth straight victory and 10th in 12 games.
Tony Parker led San Antonio with 27 points, and Tim Duncan had 25 points and 17 rebounds. Amare Stoudemire had 25 points and 13 rebounds for Phoenix, and Shaquille O’Neal finished with 23 points and 12 rebounds.
Magic 88, Hornets 68
At Orlando, Fla., Hedo Turkoglu scored 20 points, and Dwight Howard had 12 points and 15 rebounds in Orlando’s sixth straight victory.
David West had 13 points for New Orleans, and Chris Paul and Devin Brown each added 12. Paul’s NBA-record steals streak ended at 108 games.
But in the big picture, little more.
Kobe Bryant had 27 points, nine rebounds and five assists, Pau Gasol scored seven of his 20 points in the final 3 minutes, and the Lakers beat Boston 92-83 on Thursday, snapping the Celtics’ franchise-record winning streak at 19.
“It was a good measuring stick to show how much we have progressed since the finals,” Bryant said. “They are a team that has been playing so well. But at the same time, they did win 19 in a row, so they were due.”
The game was the first between the teams since the Celtics’ 131-92 victory in Game 6 of the finals last June gave them their first title in 22 years and a league-high 17th.
“We definitely wanted to do well against a team that is doing great,” Lakers forward Lamar Odom said. “We won’t get them back until we can beat them in a series.”
The victory was the 1,000th for Los Angeles coach Phil Jackson. The 63-year-old Jackson, the sixth NBA coach to reach the mark, is 1,000-423 in 17-plus seasons with Chicago and the Lakers. Pat Riley was the previous fastest to 1,000, doing it in 1,434 games.
“I can guarantee you that I won’t win 1,000 games because I won’t be around that long,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. “It’s just an amazing number.”
The Celtics entered with a 27-2 record — the best ever start by a two-loss team. They were in position to make it 28-2 when Kevin Garnett dunked off a feed from Rajon Rondo to put them ahead 81-79 with 3:57 left. But the Lakers finished with a 13-2 run.
The Lakers outscored the Celtics 21-16 in the fourth quarter. Boston shot 8-of-19 and was 0-for-7 on 3-pointers in the final period.
“I’m really happy with Pau,” Jackson said. “He stepped up in that fourth quarter and we really needed him.”
Lamar Odom had 10 points and seven rebounds, and Sasha Vujacic also scored 10 points for the Lakers (24-5), who won their 12th straight game at home, where they’re 15-1. Andrew Bynum had nine points and seven rebounds.
“They played great, give them credit,” Rivers said. “For a team that has been phenomenal down a stretch of games, I didn’t think we were very good tonight. We’ve been as composed as any team that I’ve seen in a long time, and I thought, quite honestly, that we lost it a little bit at the end.”
Garnett shot 11-of-14 in leading the Celtics with 22 points and nine rebounds. Paul Pierce had 20 points and 10 rebounds, but was scoreless in the fourth quarter. Ray Allen scored 14 points, but went 2-of-11 after making his first three shots.
Gasol made all three of his shots and all three of his free throws in the fourth quarter for nine of his team’s 21 points.
“We were pretty physical,” Gasol said. “We were able to contain them, keep our poise and finish the game off. I had to make sure I took it to them, not settle for easy jumpers. I’m glad I was able to get over that hump of a slow start.
“It shows we can beat anybody. Hopefully, we’ll build on it.”
Gasol’s 15-foot jumper with 2:48 left snapped an 81-all tie and put the Lakers ahead for good. Allen’s 3-pointer failed, and Gasol scored from close range with 2 minutes left to put Los Angeles up by four.
Garnett answered with a jumper to draw the Celtics within two, but Gasol’s three-point play with 1:28 left put the Lakers on top 88-83. Gasol then blocked Allen’s 3-pointer, setting up Trevor Ariza for a dunk that gave Los Angeles a seven-point lead with 1:12 to go. Bryant’s basket completed the scoring.
“Losing is losing, man,” Garnett said. “It doesn’t matter who it is. We hadn’t lost in a while, but today I felt like we missed assignments and had some miscommunication, things that we’re known for.”
Cavaliers 93, Wizards 89
At Cleveland, Mo Williams had 24 points, and Cleveland scored 11 straight points in the final 1:33 to improve to 15-0 at home.
LeBron James and Delonte West had 18 apiece for the Cavs, the NBA’s lone unbeaten team at home. Antawn Jamison scored 28 points, and Mike James had 26 for Washington. The Wizards have lost eight straight.
Spurs 91, Suns 90
At Phoenix, Roger Mason hit a 3-pointer from the corner at the buzzer to give San Antonio its fourth straight victory and 10th in 12 games.
Tony Parker led San Antonio with 27 points, and Tim Duncan had 25 points and 17 rebounds. Amare Stoudemire had 25 points and 13 rebounds for Phoenix, and Shaquille O’Neal finished with 23 points and 12 rebounds.
Magic 88, Hornets 68
At Orlando, Fla., Hedo Turkoglu scored 20 points, and Dwight Howard had 12 points and 15 rebounds in Orlando’s sixth straight victory.
David West had 13 points for New Orleans, and Chris Paul and Devin Brown each added 12. Paul’s NBA-record steals streak ended at 108 games.
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