LAKERS TOP CELTICS ON KOBE’S LATE GAME JUMPER

The Los Angeles Lakers might not want to consider Boston’s TD BankNorth Garden a ‘home away from home’ but they’re starting to enjoy success there with regularity.  On Sunday, Kobe Bryant sank a jumper with just over 7 seconds remaining to propel the Lakers to a 90-89 victory over the Celtics.  It was the Lakers third consecutive win over their historical rivals, and the Celtics 7th loss in their last 10 games.   The Celtics have slipped to fourth place in the Eastern Conference while the Lakers are neck-and-neck with the Cleveland Cavaliers for the best record in the league.

Despite the Lakers’ victory, the game was a wash for NBA betting enthusiasts.   Los Angeles closed a -1 point road favorite, giving their backers a hard fought push ending a 3 game pointspread winning streak. The 179 combined points scored went well UNDER the posted total of 195.  The Lakers have now gone UNDER in two straight games after going OVER in their previous four contests.

Afterwards, Lamar Odom gave this declaration of victory:

"They smacked us two years ago. It was a big game for us. This is a team that's going to be battling to be coming out of the East."

Kobe had been complaining of a stiff ankle and hadn’t been in good shooting form heading into the late stages of the game.  Lakers’ coach Phil Jackson gave this account:

"He had a couple of looks before that that were good looks, and he didn't put them in. We were mystified by that. He told me the next one was going to go in, so we went with him."

Bryant disputed his coach’s recollection of how the sideline conversation went:

"I didn't say give me one more chance. I said give me the damn ball. I never really give him much of a choice."

The Celtics led by as many as 11 points in the fourth quarter, but the Lakers methodically chipped away at that advantage.  The big turning point was a late game offensive foul call on Paul Pierce, which left Celtics’ coach Doc Rivers somewhat mystified:

"At that point, I think it's got to be unbelievable, but I didn't see it so I really can't give an opinion on it. You know, I do know Kobe pushes off a lot."

Pierce, meanwhile, gave a more gentlemanly response:

"I thought I made a good move. I got to my sweet spot. I guess the ref saw it differently and he made the call. That's part of the game. That's why you have referees."

The Lakers will now play at Memphis on Monday night before returning home for a Wednesday night game with Charlotte and a Friday date with the Denver Nuggets.  The Celtics will play at Washington on Monday before hosting Miami and New Jersey later in the week.