Bryant spurs Lakers to win

Guard's 36 points keep cold Celtics at bay in Game 3

By Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published June 10, 2008 at 10:01 p.m.

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Photo by Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant managed to stay just ahead of the defensive efforts of Kendrick Perkins and other Celtics in Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Tuesday night in Los Angeles.

With television ratings having soared in the first two games, the NBA no doubt was giddy about the San Antonio Spurs not being involved in these Finals.

Then what happened?

A Spurs game broke out.

In an ugly affair reminiscent of many San Antonio games, the Lakers staggered past Boston 87-81 on Tuesday night at the Staples Center to cut the Celtics' series lead to 2-1.

So much for Showtime.

But that was OK with the Lakers. They were just trying to survive because a loss would have doomed their season.

"It was not a beautiful ballgame," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said of a game coming after the teams had played Sunday night in Boston. "That's a transition game from East Coast to West Coast."

One of the few players who didn't play as if his mind was somewhere over Nebraska was Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, who scored a game-high 36 points. Then again, Bryant shot only 11-of-18 from the free-throw line.

But Bryant stepped up when needed, scoring 10 fourth-quarter points as the Lakers overcame a 62-60 deficit entering the period.

"Just reading the defense, seeing where it was coming from," said Bryant, who made two jumpers in the final 1:06 to put the Lakers up by seven, then by six. "It was single coverage, and at that point it's my responsibility to put the ball in the hole."

That was much tougher for the Celtics, who shot only 34.9 percent. But they still somehow led by five late in the third quarter and were down 78-76 when forward Kevin Garnett banked in a short shot with 2:41 to play.

It helped Boston's cause that the Lakers managed only 21-of-34 shooting from the free-throw line, including 12-of-22 in the first half. Jackson had to be wondering for a while why he had criticized the officiating after Game 2, when the Lakers shot only 10 free throws to Boston's 38.

For the game, the Lakers got 12 more free-throw attempts than the Celtics. But they shot them as if Shaquille O'Neal still was on the team.

It was a good thing for the Lakers, who shot a pedestrian 43.5 percent from the field, that guard Sasha Vujacic was content to fire away from three-point range. He made 3-of-5, helping the Lakers with 20 points.

"That's what I live for," said Vujacic, who made a three-pointer that put the Lakers up 81-76 with 1:53 to play. "My shot went in."

The shots for the Celtics didn't. Forward Paul Pierce, the star in the first two games when he averaged 25 points, shot only 2-of-14 for six points. Garnett was only 6-of-21 for 13 points, although he did have 12 rebounds.

The only member of the "Big Three" who wasn't a Big Zero on offense was guard Ray Allen. He kept the Celtics in the game with a team-high 25 points.

"I was just trying to just keep the team in it," said Allen, who shot 8-of-13.

As for Garnett, Jackson said he thought "Kevin kind of ran out of gas." Jackson said it appeared as if Garnett "was gassed some time in the fourth quarter."

Boston coach Doc Rivers took exception to that comment. Perhaps the Celtics-Lakers rivalry is staring to percolate again.

"Well, I'm just surprised (Jackson) didn't whine about fouls," said Rivers, who nevertheless believed the Lakers' aggressiveness, not Jackson's comments, were why they shot many more free throws.

After Game 3, though, it was Bryant's turn to get in a dig about the Lakers shooting 38 free throws in the first two games to 73 for the Celtics.

"I felt like I was in foreign territory because I haven't been there in so long," Bryant said of missing seven free throws. "It's like somebody took me and just dropped me off in the middle of Shanghai with no translator."

Suddenly, though, it's the Celtics looking a bit lost. Boston, already having starters Pierce (right knee strain) and Kendrick Perkins (sprained left ankle) battling injuries, watched starting point guard Rajon Rondo turn his left ankle in the first minute of the second half and leave the game.

Rondo had his ankle retaped and returned briefly before Rivers pulled him and played Eddie House the final 4:25.

"Eddie was playing well, and that was it," said Rivers, downplaying Rondo's injury.

Rivers was looking for offense, and House did shoot 2-of-3 on three-pointers. Overall, though, he was 2-of-8.

Somewhere, the Spurs, much maligned for the ugly games they have played in four of the previous nine Finals, might have been chuckling.

WALTON PICKS CELTICS

Bill Walton's Finals pick: Boston in seven.

"That's my professional pick," said the ESPN analyst, former Celtic and father of Lakers forward Luke Walton. "But I'm rooting for Luke to win."

Walton attended Game 3 after missing the first two games because of a severe back injury that has hampered him for 15 weeks.

KARL ON ANTHONY

Coach George Karl was asked if the Nuggets might trade Carmelo Anthony.

He didn't rule it out but said the Nuggets won't be "irrational or out of control in our decision making."

"We know we have a good team," said Karl, at Game 3 of the Finals to support his son, Lakers guard Coby Karl. "But we also know we're disappointed. ... We're going to keep all windows of opportunity and windows of advancement and betterment ... open. But I don't think we have crazy guys in the front office who are going to do something wild."

Regarding Anthony trade reports, Karl said: "90 percent of the stuff that I read makes no sense."

CHEERING SECTION

Karl also will attend Game 4, even though Coby isn't ever expected to be active in the Finals.

"It's an experience and opportunity I should be here for," Karl said. "I realize how hard it is (making the Finals)."

Karl had his left hip replaced May20 but soon will discard his cane. He can't play golf for three months.

HE SAID IT

"We all do it. It doesn't hurt to posture."

Doc Rivers, Celtics coach, on Lakers coach Phil Jackson criticizing officials after Game 2 in hopes of getting more breaks in Game 3.

• June 11, 2008

  6:38 a.m.

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