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NBA: Boston 96, Los Angeles Lakers 89
BOSTON, June 11 (UPI) -- Ray Allen keyed a surge early in the fourth quarter Thursday, lifting Boston to a 96-89 win over the Los Angeles Lakers that tied the NBA Finals at 2-2.
The Celtics trailed by two points heading into the final period and the Lakers were in position to take complete control of the championship series.
Boston, needing a clutch performance in the closing 12 minutes to save its season, came through with the help of its bench and gave itself renewed hope of claiming its second title in three years.
The Celtics put together a clutch nine-point run in the opening stages of the fourth to take a 71-64 lead and the Lakers were unable to draw any closer than six points the rest of the way. Allen scored four points in the run and finished with 12.
Boston made 12-of-19 shots from the field in the final period.
Game 5 of the best-of-seven series will be played in Boston Sunday, after which the remainder of the NBA's concluding showdown will be hosted by the Lakers.
Glen Davis contributed to the vital fourth-quarter effort by scoring nine of his 18 in the closing stanza. Nate Robinson came off the bench to produce six of his 12 points in the fourth.
Paul Pierce led Boston with 19 points and Kevin Garnett contributed 13.
Boston overcame a combined 54 points from Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol. Bryant hit 6-of-11 from 3-point range in producing 33 points and Gasol had six rebounds to go with his 21 points.
BOSTON, June 11 (UPI) -- Ray Allen keyed a surge early in the fourth quarter Thursday, lifting Boston to a 96-89 win over the Los Angeles Lakers that tied the NBA Finals at 2-2.
The Celtics trailed by two points heading into the final period and the Lakers were in position to take complete control of the championship series.
Boston, needing a clutch performance in the closing 12 minutes to save its season, came through with the help of its bench and gave itself renewed hope of claiming its second title in three years.
The Celtics put together a clutch nine-point run in the opening stages of the fourth to take a 71-64 lead and the Lakers were unable to draw any closer than six points the rest of the way. Allen scored four points in the run and finished with 12.
Boston made 12-of-19 shots from the field in the final period.
Game 5 of the best-of-seven series will be played in Boston Sunday, after which the remainder of the NBA's concluding showdown will be hosted by the Lakers.
Glen Davis contributed to the vital fourth-quarter effort by scoring nine of his 18 in the closing stanza. Nate Robinson came off the bench to produce six of his 12 points in the fourth.
Paul Pierce led Boston with 19 points and Kevin Garnett contributed 13.
Boston overcame a combined 54 points from Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol. Bryant hit 6-of-11 from 3-point range in producing 33 points and Gasol had six rebounds to go with his 21 points.
