-
Gasol shines as Lakers edge Celtics
Pau Gasol delivered a "double-double" and blocked Boston's final attempt at the buzzer as the Los Angeles Lakers held on for an 88-87 NBA overtime victory against the Celtics in Boston.
Kobe Bryant on Thursday led the Lakers with 27 points, but Spain's Gasol played a key role with 25 points and 14 rebounds as Los Angeles -- who have struggled on the road this season -- ended Boston's five-game winning streak.
With 9.8 seconds to play in regulation Gasol tipped in Bryant's missed jump shot, knotting the score at 82-82.
Boston swingman Mickael Pietrus of France was off-target with a three-point attempt as time expired in regulation, sending it to overtime.
As the clock ticked down in the extra period, Gasol was right there under the basket when Boston's Paul Pierce missed. Although the Celtics came up with the rebound, Gasol stretched to block Ray Allen's attempt at a game-winning put-back, sealing the one-point victory.
Andrew Bynum also notched a "double-double" for the Lakers with 16 points and 17 rebounds.
Allen led the Celtics with 22 points. Pierce added 18 with nine rebounds.
Both teams were due back in action on Friday, when the Celtics were to visit Toronto and the Lakers were slated for a first-hand view of the NBA's latest sensation, Jeremy Lin, when they played the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
