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Allen sets 3-point record, Celtics lose to Lakers

Feb 11, 2011 - 6:16 AM Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Kobe Bryant finished with a game-high 23 points and the Lakers spoiled Ray Allen's record-breaking night by topping the Celtics, 92-86, at TD Garden.

"Kobe didn't win the game with his offense," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "Kobe won the game with his defense. He was everywhere, trapping the post, blocking shots."

Pau Gasol added 20 points and 10 rebounds while Andrew Bynum posted 16 points and nine boards for the Lakers, who have won three straight and four of five. Shannon Brown and Lamar Odom posted 12 and 10 points, respectively, off the bench.

Allen led the Celtics with 20 points and broke Reggie Miller's NBA record for career three-pointers made after entering the game only one shy of the mark of 2,560.

He tied the record with a three-pointer late in the first, then moved atop the list with 1:48 remaining in the same quarter after Rajon Rondo hit him with a short pass near the top of the key and Allen connected on a near-perfect shot.

"It was overwhelming but a great moment. I'll remember this for the rest of my life," Allen said about the record breaking night.

Allen added one more three-pointer in the game for 2,562 and sits all alone atop the NBA record book after 15 seasons and 1,074 games.

"It was a magical moment, being in this building. I felt a little embarrassed that there was so much attention surrounding this moment," Allen continued.

He paced the Celtics with 12 points in the first quarter, as Boston took an early 27-20 lead. Boston widened its advantage to as high as 15 in the second quarter, but the Lakers trimmed their deficit to 53-45 at the break.

The Lakers surged in the third quarter as Bryant led the way with 12 points on 4-of-8 from the field. Los Angeles capitalized on a 26-percent shooting effort from Boston and took a slim 72-68 lead into the final stanza.

Odom opened the fourth quarter with a three-pointer at 11:18, and after Brown's tip-in fell 43 seconds later the Lakers lead was 77-68. The Celtics came back and after a Rondo layup at 6:24 their deficit was down to three, 82-79.

Both teams went cold for the next 1 1/2 minutes, but it was Bryant's turnaround jumper at 4:49 that started a 6-0 run to give the Lakers some distance. After Kevin Garnett, who finished with 10 points and 11 boards, and Allen both missed jumpers, Bryant sank a 20-foot shot to give LA a seven-point advantage.

Ron Artest swiped the ball away from Allen with 3:28 remaining, and a streaking Bryant ended the spurt with short layup to make it 88-79. Rondo and Glen Davis both made baskets to cut the Celtics deficit to five, however, a Gasol layup silenced the run and the Lakers maintained down the stretch.

"I hope we're motivated every night," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "It was just one of those things. We've got a 1-7 record against power teams, this is important, what is important is playing our game, and finding ourselves in a game in which we were highly competitive."

Game Notes

The Lakers entered the game 0-5 against the top four teams in the league (San Antonio, Boston, Miami and Dallas)...Boston opened a three-game homestand that will also feature visits from Miami and New Jersey...Paul Pierce finished with 15 points while Rondo added 12 with 10 assists in the loss...Kendrick Perkins added 12 points and nine boards for Boston...Jason Kidd and Peja Stojakovic rank third and fourth behind Allen and Miller...The Celtics played with center's Shaquille O'Neal (leg), and Semih Erden (adductor strain)...Nate Robinson left the game in the second quarter with a bruised knee.