Final
Allen aims to shoot Celtics past Lakers
Feb 10, 2011 - 10:24 PM (Sports Network) - Ray Allen has one of the sweetest strokes the NBA has ever seen and is only two three-pointers away of becoming the all-time leader in shots made from beyond the arc.The sharp-shooting Allen will lead the Boston Celtics tonight versus the Los Angeles Lakers at TD Garden in the opener of a three-game homestand. Allen has sank 2,559 three-pointers in his career -- one shy of Reggie Miller's record of 2,560 treys made. Allen has hit a career-best 46.2 percent from downtown this season and led all scorers with 25 points in Monday's 94-89 loss in Charlotte. He made both of his attempts from three-point range in that one.
Paul Pierce netted 22 points, while Rajon Rondo had 10 points and 14 assists for the Celtics, who have lost two of three games and were coming off a big win versus the Orlando Magic. Perhaps the Celtics were looking past the Bobcats and focusing on upcoming matchups with the Lakers and Heat.
"They're a different team from the last time we played them," Boston forward Kevin Garnett said of Charlotte. "I think we had our chances to win the game, but we didn't take advantage of them."
Boston will also host Miami and New Jersey on the homestand and is an impressive 23-4 in Beantown this season. Celtics veteran center Shaquille O'Neal is expected to miss tonight's game with an Achilles and hip problem, while Pierce is probable due to an illness.
Rumored to be in the Carmelo Anthony sweepstakes, the Lakers will continue their seven-game Grammy Awards road trip Thursday night.
The two-time defending NBA champion Lakers have won two straight and three of four games, including Monday's 93-84 victory in Memphis behind 19 points, seven rebounds and six assists from superstar Kobe Bryant. Pau Gasol added 17 points and nine boards for Los Angeles, which is 2-0 on the trip and 17-8 as the visitor this season. Lamar Odom had 15 points and 11 rebounds in the win.
"We played good defense," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "Our defense was sound, we didn't let them get a lot of stuff inside and we controlled the tempo for most of the game."
Andrew Bynum, who is reportedly involved in the recent Anthony trade rumors, registered 11 points in a winning effort. LA will also visit the Knicks, Magic, Bobcats and Cavaliers on the road swing.
The Lakers and Celtics have combined to win more than half of the NBA's total championships and the clubs have met in the The Finals on 12 different occasions, including two of the past three seasons. The Lakers defeated Boston in an epic seven-game series last season to win their 16th NBA crown, but the Celtics earned a measure of revenge with a 109-96 win at Staples Center on Jan. 30 this season.
Pierce finished with a team-high 32 points in that one for Boston, which has won two straight and four of seven meetings between the two teams. The Lakers, however, are 10-5 in their last 15 trips to Beantown.
- LOS ANGELES: 92
BOSTON: 86
Final
Feb 10 10:48 PM - LOS ANGELES: 72
BOSTON: 68
End of 3rd
Feb 10 10:13 PM - LOS ANGELES: 45
BOSTON: 53
Halftime
Feb 10 9:23 PM - LOS ANGELES: 20
BOSTON: 27
End of 1st
Feb 10 8:45 PM - LOS ANGELES: 0
BOSTON: 0
1st Quarter - 12:00
Feb 10 8:18 PM
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