Paul Pierce scored 15 points, Rajon Rondo added 10, and the Boston Celtics took a 45-39 lead over the Los Angeles Lakers into halftime of Game 5 of the NBA finals on Sunday night. Kevin Garnett made all three shots and had eight points and seven rebounds as Boston had two of its Big Three playing well at the same time for one of the few occasions in the series. Pierce made 7-of-10 shots. The Celtics were trying to take a 3-2 lead and move a win away from increasing their NBA-best total to 18 championships. They shot 66 percent and led at halftime for the first time since Game 2. Kobe Bryant scored 10 points on just 4-of-12 shooting for the Lakers, who shot just 33 percent. Andrew Bynum played 18 minutes and had six points, three nights after his sore right knee forced him to leave Game 4 after only 12 minutes. He and Derek Fisher (nine points) helped Los Angeles end a slow start. A message on the overhead video board before the Celtics’ starting lineups were introduced read: “The final stand at the Garden.” They made it a good one in the first half. The Lakers missed their first six shots as Boston jumped ahead 6-0, but Bynum and Fisher combined for the first 15 Los Angeles points for a 15-14 lead when Fisher hit three free throws with 4:58 remaining in the first quarter. Pierce hit jumpers for the Celtics’ final two baskets of the period, sending them to the second with a 22-20 lead. Bryant was only 1 for 4, shooting an airball and missing badly on another jumper. The …
See more here:
Lakers – Celtics – Game 5 – NBA Finals 2010
