NBA Finals Capsule
LOS ANGELES 103, BOSTON 98
Boston Leads Series, 3-2
Boston Leads Series, 3-2
LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Kobe Bryant delivered on his words - for the time being, at least. A day after declaring that the series was far from over, Bryant finished with 25 points and five steals to help the Los Angeles Lakers stave off elimination with a 103-98 victory over the Boston Celtics in Game Five of the NBA Finals on Sunday.
Bryant came through with the game's biggest sequence, beginning with a steal that led to a breakaway dunk with 37 seconds remaining as the Lakers' slim title hopes remained alive. Los Angeles now trails, 3-2, in the best-of-seven series and must capture the next two games in Boston - where the Celtics are 12-1 this postseason - beginning with Tuesday's Game Six. No team in NBA history has comeback from a 3-1 deficit and, since the league switched to the 2-3-2 Finals format in 1985, no team has won the last two games on the road. The Lakers are attempting to do both.
Bryant got the support he's been looking for all series in this one, with Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol each awakening with big games. Odom contributed 20 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks, while Gasol had 19, 13 and six assists.
Bryant came through with the game's biggest sequence, beginning with a steal that led to a breakaway dunk with 37 seconds remaining as the Lakers' slim title hopes remained alive. Los Angeles now trails, 3-2, in the best-of-seven series and must capture the next two games in Boston - where the Celtics are 12-1 this postseason - beginning with Tuesday's Game Six. No team in NBA history has comeback from a 3-1 deficit and, since the league switched to the 2-3-2 Finals format in 1985, no team has won the last two games on the road. The Lakers are attempting to do both.
Bryant got the support he's been looking for all series in this one, with Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol each awakening with big games. Odom contributed 20 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks, while Gasol had 19, 13 and six assists.
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