DOWN TO THE WIRE

 

The 2010 NBA Finals between the Lakers and the Celtics were certainly getting tight. Game 1 was in LA and saw the Lakers win 102-89. Then came Games 2, 3 and 4. The Celtics won Game 2 103-94 in LA to make this series a five gamer as it switched to Boston. Fine by the Lakers who won Game 3 91-84. Then just as the defending champions thought they could wrap this series up, the Celtics won Game 4 96-89 to make this series a three gamer. Lakers still technically had homecourt advantage but still had a Game 5 in Boston to deal with and after that they'd have to go back to LA for Game 6. The trophy was very much on the line now.

Well the Celtics looked to be merciless at the start of Game 5 and yet still the Lakers managed to come back, leading 10-8 with 6:47 left in the 1st quarter. The two sides duelled for the lead for the rest of the opener though ad by the time the first buzzer sounded, the Celtics had come out on top. Early in the 2nd quarter the Celtics extended their lead as the last few minutes of the half drew near it looked likely that the Lakers would go for a turnaround. Sure enough the Lakers briefly retook the lead but the Celtics weren't going to let that last and led 45-39 at half time with Paul Pierce leading the scoring on 15 points. So far so good for the men in green.

Early in the 3rd quarter, the Celtics lead hit double figures and after that the Lakers looked to be doing well just to tread water. The defending champions certainly didn't look like they'd be coming up with any more of a response before the end of that period though. Early in the 4th quarter though they rallied, despite both side falling into scoreless periods, and the defending champions reigned the home side in on multiple occasions. With time running down though it looked as though the Celtics had won it...and though the gap was down to five with ten seconds on the clock, that was too little, too late. Celtics won 92-86 with Pierce finishing with 27 points, backed up by Kevin Garnett with 18 points and 10 rebounds.

And so, on to Game 6 in LA. The Celtics had the early edge but that didn't last as the Lakers went on a run though the Celtics did retake the lead to the tune of 12-10 with 7:36 left in the 1st. The Lakers had no interest in showing much mercy from there on in and who can blame them, they built up a double dgit lead by the end of the opener. In the 2nd quarter the Lakers still showed no mercy and it looked unlikely that the trophy would be lifted before the end of the night. The first half was pretty much over at that point. Lakers led 51-31 with Kobe Bryant leading the way on 15 points. The Celtics had their work cut out from here on in.

Well the early stages of the 3rd quarter were low scoring - the fact that the Celtics couldn't shoot didn't help. Still, they managed to reign the Lakers in to an extent. Not that that counted for much, as the Lakers looked to take over yet again but the Celtics did manage to cut the gap to seventeen with just over two and a half minutes left in the period. That was as good as it got though and the Lakers looked to just be mopping things up in the 4th. The Lakers went on to win the game 90-67 with Bryant finishing with 26 points backup up by Pau Gasol on 17. That level the series at 3-3 and the Finals now goes down to the wire for the first time since '05.

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