Lakers--Celtics Recap

BOSTON -- Kobe Bryant scored 20 of his 23 points in the second half, and theLos Angeles Lakers spoiled Ray Allen's record-setting night by beating theBoston Celtics 92-86 in an NBA finals rematch on Thursday night.

Allen became the NBA's career leader in 3-pointers in the first quarter, but Bryant later put him on the bench in foul trouble during his big second half that rallied Los Angeles from an early 15-point deficit.

Pau Gasol added 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Lakers, who split the regular season series with their biggest rivals and got a sorely needed victory against one of the league's top teams. Andrew Bynum, the subject of trade rumors in the never-ending Carmelo Anthony saga, finished with 16 points and nine rebounds.

Allen hit two 3-pointers in the first quarter to pass former Indiana Pacers starReggie Miller (2,560), who was sitting courtside calling the game for TNT. But he made only one more and had 20 points after scoring 12 in the first quarter.

Paul Pierce had 15 points for the Celtics, who came in shooting an NBA-best 49.7 percent and shredded the Lakers for 60 percent shooting in their 109-96 victory at Los Angeles on Jan. 30, but went cold after a strong start in this one and finished at 40 percent.

Bryant scored 41 points in that loss, but seemed headed nowhere near it after taking only three shots in the first half. He had a quick flurry out of halftime, then had eight points in the final 4:51 to help the Lakers hold on.

Lamar Odom finished with 10 points, 12 rebounds and one headache for the Lakers, who moved to 3-0 on their seven-game Grammys road trip that continues Friday in New York.

Down eight at halftime, Los Angeles return from the locker room with a 10-0 burst, and it was back and forth the remainder of the third quarter. The Lakers scored six consecutive points late in the period, the last two in painful fashion after Odom tipped in Gasol's miss, then their heads collided as they turned to run downcourt. Los Angeles led 72-68 after three.

Sporting a large bandage on his forehead, Odom opened the fourth with a 3-pointer, but the Celtics were only down three midway through the period before Bryant made two jumpers and a layup to push the lead to 88-79 with 3:12 remaining. Boston got back within five, but Bryant found Gasol for a bucket underneath, then finished with off with a jumper with 48 seconds to play.

It gets no easier for the Celtics, who host Miami on Sunday in a showdown of Eastern Conference powers.

Allen tied the record with his first 3-pointer with 4:14 left in the first quarter, but missed on the next possession with the crowd ready to roar. He nailed the record breaker with 1:48 to go, taking a pass from Rajon Rondo as he trailed on a delayed break and pulling up from the right wing for a 22-14 lead.

Allen had 12 points in the period, then was honored during the break with a loud, standing ovation. He hugged Miller, then his mother before going into the crowd to see his family. A video montage in the second quarter showed highlights from his earlier years in Milwaukee and Seattle.

It seemed there'd be plenty of time for celebrating his big night when the Celtics rolled to a 15-point lead on Allen's dunk with 5:28 left in the half. But the Lakers ran off 10 in a row later in the half and were down only 53-45 at halftime.

Game notes
Celtics reserve guard Nate Robinson limped off with a bruised right knee in the second quarter, and it was determined at halftime he wouldn't return. With Allen and then backup Von Wafer forced to the bench by foul trouble, the Celtics had to go to rookie Avery Bradley, recently recalled from the NBA Development League, to defend Bryant late in the third quarter. ... Allen received the NBA Cares Community Assist Award for January on Thursday for his support of U.S. troops overseas and his local charity efforts.

Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press

Paul Pierce posts triple-double as Celts top Pacers, win 13th in row

BOSTON -- Rest up, Rajon Rondo.

The Boston Celtics showed they can still keep the ball moving even without the NBA's assist leader, getting a triple-double from Paul Pierce while holding off the Indiana Pacers 99-88 on Sunday to extend their winning streak to 13 straight.

Pierce had 12 assists and Ray Allen added six more as the Celtics played their second straight game without Rondo, who is out for a couple of weeks with a sprained left ankle.

"That's the point we make with this team. When the ball moves, there's assists," coach Doc Rivers said. "Guys are going to get assists and they're getting that."

Pierce added 18 points and 10 rebounds to go with his dozen assists. It was the sixth regular-season triple-double of Pierce's career and seventh overall. He last accomplished the feat March 8, 2006, against Philadelphia, which visits Boston on Wednesday.

"I pride myself in trying to be a complete player," Pierce said. "Throughout the course of my career I've worked on a lot of things on both sides of the ball."

Nate Robinson started for Rondo and scored 18 points. Allen finished with 17 points and Shaquille O'Neal, who had missed four straight games with a sore right calf, returned with 11 points, including a monster dunk off a long lob from Pierce.

"Shaq is a big guy. When he looks up, I get his head nod and he says 'throw it to the rim' -- that's what I try to do," Pierce said. "He doesn't have to jump too high to dunk the ball, so I just try to put it right next to the rim."

The only Boston starter not to score in double figures was Kevin Garnett, and he had a solid nine points and nine rebounds.

The Celtics, who improved to 12-1 at home, are looking pretty deep.

"They can be beat, but you have to play a near perfect game," said Indiana'sDanny Granger, who led the Pacers with 19 points. "I think the Celtics are more talented than those other teams across the board. They probably have 40 years of All-Star games between [them]."

Roy Hibbert had 17 points and 14 rebounds for the pesky Pacers, who hung with the Celtics until the final few minutes. Indiana made just 34 of 96 shots, but committed only 13 turnovers to Boston's 18 and was almost able to keep up with the bigger Celtics in rebounding.

"They're a heck of a basketball team and they're stingy in the fourth quarter," Indiana coach Jim O'Brien said. "We didn't stop them enough times to give us our chance to make a run."

Boston finally broke it open with a spurt late in the fourth quarter after Indiana pulled within 85-81. Davis and Allen each hit jumpers, then Allen made one of the plays of the day to wilt any hopes the Pacers may have had about another comeback.

Darren Collison burned Robinson with a crossover in the lane, passed it back outside and Allen was there to pluck it away and break for the basket. He crossed up Mike Dunleavy in the lane and banked in a reverse layup that gave the Celtics a 91-83 lead with 3:11 left.

Game notes
O'Neal hadn't played since Dec. 8 against Denver. ... Boston's last loss was Nov. 21 at Toronto. ... The Celtics closed the first period on a 9-2 run for a 30-23 lead. ... Glen Davis also scored 18 for the Celtics, who haven't lost in nearly a month.

Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press

Pierce agrees on 4 years, $61M

Paul Pierce and the Boston Celtics have agreed to a four-year, $61 million deal, a source told ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher on Saturday.



A source told ESPN the fourth year of Pierce's contract -- the main point of contention in the negotiations -- is fully guaranteed.

It was not immediately known if the contract contains a no-trade clause, which Pierce is eligible for by virtue of having at least eight years of service time and four with the same team.

Pierce opted out of the final year of his contract and sacrificed $21.5 million to give the Celtics room to re-sign Ray Allen and add another piece to a Boston team that came within one win of its second NBA title in three years.

Multiple media outlets reported Friday that the sides had reached an agreement on a four-year deal between $60 and $62 million.

Celtics spokesman Jeff Twiss had no comment when reached Friday by The Associated Press.

Pierce has spent his entire 12-year career with the Celtics. He is second only to Larry Bird among longtime Celtics in points per game. Pierce is first in 3-pointers, second in steals, third in total points, eighth in games played and ninth in rebounds.

ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher, ESPN.com's Marc Stein and The Associated Press contributed to this report.