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Lakers beat Celtics to take 2-1 series lead

(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-06-09 13:51

Boston Celtics guard Ray Allen shoots against Los Angeles Lakers' Derek Fisher (L) and Kobe Bryant (R) during Game 3 of the 2010 NBA Finals basketball series in Boston, Massachusetts, on June 8, 2010. [Agencies]

BOSTON - The Los Angeles Lakers stunned the Boston Celtics 91-84 on Tuesday to assume a 2-1 lead in the NBA Finals and snatch back homecourt advantage in the best-of-seven series between the league's fiercest rivals.

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Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 29 points but it was his backcourt side-kick Derek Fisher who frustrated the Celtics by scoring 11 of his 16 points in the final period.

A five-foot jumper by Kevin Garnett pulled the Celtics to within 82-80 with 2:03 left but Bryant responded with a 15-foot pull-up jumper.

A three-point play by Fisher then hiked the Lakers' lead to 87-80 with just 48 seconds remaining.

Bryant hit only 10 of 29 shots, including just one of seven from beyond the arc, but the visiting team's 43-35 edge on the boards played a key role in the outcome.

Boston was led by Garnett, who scored 25 points on 11 of 16 shooting from the floor.

The Celtics' Ray Allen, one of the league's top shooters, missed all 13 of his attempts and finished with two points.

The next two games of the series are in Boston, with Game Four set for Thursday.