Can Lakers tie 2008 NBA Finals vs Celtics?

The Lakers won Game 5 with a chance to tie the series in Boston.

The Lakers, facing elimination at home, won Game 5 of the 2008 NBA Finals to force a Game 6 back at the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston.

The last time the Lakers played the Celtics before Sunday, the Lakers jumped on them right from the get-go, getting a HUGE lead as early as the first quarter and although the Lakers failed to hold on to their lead in Game 4, they managed to hold off the Celtics this time in Game 5.

Yup, just like Game 4, the Los Angeles Lakers jumped on the Celtics in Game 5 as soon as the opening buzzer sounded. They led by as many as 19 points, leading 39-22 after quarter number one.

Of course, after watching the Lakers squander their 24-point lead in Game 4 to lose to the Boston Celtics, Laker fans were not as comfortable with their team’s 39-22 lead at the end of the first quarter of Game 5 as they were back in Game 4. Thankfully, the rest of the Lakers were expecting Boston to make a late rally. And that’s exactly what the Celtics did.

Led by Paul Pierce, the Celtics chipped away the Lakers’ lead in the second quarter, outscoring the Lakers 30-16, to end the first half trailing by only three points, 55-52, thanks to Pierce’s 21 first half points. Looks like the Celtics wanted to end this best-of-seven series right then and there at the Staples Center in El Segundo and after their incredible second quarter rally, Laker fans were nervous.

The Lakers, desperate to force another game back in Boston and keep their season alive, were fortunate to have the rest of the team ready to play after Kobe Bryant went cold after scoring 15 of his 25 points in the first half.

And boy, did the Lakers got help from their players other than Kobe indeed as Lamar Odom followed up on his great performance in Game 4 to score 20 points and grab 11 rebounds in the do-or-die Game 5.

Pau Gasol chimed in 19 points while Derek Fisher scored 15.

For the Celtics, it was still Pierce, coming up with a game-high 38 points in their Game 5 loss. Kevin Garnett had a double-double of 13 points and 14 rebounds while Ray Allen, who left the game immediately because of an undisclosed health issue with one of his children, scored 16.

Expect Game 6 to be another close contest and if Ray Allen was probably put out of his game with this health issue of one of his children, expect sweet shooting Ray to exceed his Game 5 production in Game 6, especially with the NBA title on the line.

Can the Boston Celtics win the 2008 NBA title or will the Los Angeles Lakers win their return to the NBA Finals? Bodog sportsbook has the odds.

Boston Celtics 2.65

Los Angeles Lakers 1.53

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Boston Celtics Los Angeles Lakers