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Lakers beat Celtics to get back in title hunt

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-06-12 11:00

LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Lakers battled back into NBA title contention by beating the Boston Celtics 87-81 to trim their deficit in the finals to 2-1 on Tuesday.

Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant celebrates with teammate Pau Gasol during a break in play against the Boston Celtics in the second half in Game 3 of the NBA Finals basketball championship in Los Angeles June 10, 2008. [Agencies]

League MVP Kobe Bryant scored 36 points, had seven rebounds and played superb defense on the Celtics' Paul Pierce to help the Lakers avoid opening the series in an 0-3 hole.

"Undoubtedly it's the leadership of Kobe Bryant out there," said Lakers coach Phil Jackson. "He was aggressive right from the start."

Bryant scored 11 points in the first quarter. The 12-year veteran was on court for a total of 45 minutes and held Pierce to six points in the game.

"What I tried to do with my team mates is just stay calm," said Bryant. "It wasn't the end of the world. They (the Celtics) did a great job of defending home court. We knew we had to come in here and do the same."

Celtics coach Doc Rivers thought the 20 points by Lakers' reserve guard Sasha Vujacic was crucial. Vujacic nailed seven of 10 shots, including three of five from beyond the arc.

"He was huge," Rivers said of the Slovenian. "Kobe was fantastic but I thought Vujacic was the key to the game.

"We're going to have to win a game when Kobe Bryant plays well. We know that. But when that happens we have to shut off the other avenues."

Bryant scored five points and center Pau Gasol added four during a pivotal 11-2 run midway through the final quarter to give Los Angeles a 77-70 advantage with 4:17 to play.

Boston closed the gap to two points on a seven-foot bank shot by Kevin Garnett but a three-pointer by Vujacic and two foul shots by Derek Fisher gave the Lakers a 83-76 lead with 1:33 left.

Pierce hit just two of 14 shots while Garnett, an 11-times All Star, scored 13 points in the game.

After shooting 42 and 53 percent from the floor in the opening two games of the series, the Celtics were successful on just 35 percent in Game Three.

"It's frustrating when you don't play well but that's the breaks of the game," said Pierce.

"By no means does it break my confidence. We're happy we didn't play so well and had a chance.

"We still feel like we're the better team."

Game Four of the best-of-seven series is on Thursday in Los Angeles.