Published>Wed, Jun 16 10 10:27 AM
Back at home and back in form, the Los Angeles Lakers thumped the Boston Celtics 89-67 on Tuesday to force the NBA Finals series to a seventh game.
Led once again by Kobe Bryant, the Lakers rebounded from their losses in the last two games in Boston to square the best-of-seven series at 3-3 and ensure the title will be decided by a sudden-death game between the sport's two fiercest rivals at the Staples Center on Thursday.
The Lakers, who have already won 15 NBA titles, including last season, saved their best performance for when it mattered, keeping the series alive with the biggest winning margin of the finals to regain the momentum with the home court advantage.
Bryant, chasing his fifth NBA title in a decade with the Lakers, has been a tower of strength throughout the series and he produced again on Tuesday with 26 points and 11 rebounds.
Spanish forward Pau Gasol contributed 17 points and 13 rebounds and Ron Artest added 15 as the Lakers squared the best-of-seven series at 3-3 and ensured the title would go down to the wire.
The Celtics failed to reach the same standards they produced in the last two games to move within sight of a record 18th title, and were outplayed from start to finish.
They suffered an early setback when centre Kendrick Perkins sprained his knee in the first quarter when he fell awkwardly, and trailed by 10 at the end of the first period.
Perkins did not return and was due to undergo tests on Wednesday to determine whether he can play in Game Seven.
The margin blew out to 20 points at halftime and 25 at the last intermission as their confidence began to wane.
The Celtics managed just 28 from 84 off the floor and 60 percent of their free throws while the Lakers shot 33 from 79, including six of 19 three-pointers.
Guard Ray Allen top scored with 19 points while Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo all made double figures for Boston.
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