LOS ANGELES, (Reuters) – The Los Angeles Lakers concentrated on dominating the backboards against the Boston Celtics on Tuesday to stave off an NBA Finals defeat and seize the momentum in the series by forcing a deciding Game Seven.
The defending NBA champions controlled play in the key on the way to a 89-67 victory, outmuscling and out-rebounding the Celtics by a 52-39 margin to set up a winner-take-all showdown at the Staples Center today.
“It’s huge. Every game the team that has won has been the winner of the rebounding battle,” Spanish forward Pau Gasol told reporters after leading the interior assault with 17 points and 13 rebounds.
“When you out-rebound a team the way we did tonight you give yourself a huge advantage.”
Lakers talisman Kobe Bryant helped to cement the home team’s advantage as he set the tone with 11 rebounds of his own and a game-high 26 points.
In a dominant performance from start to finish, the Lakers attack was supplemented by Ron Artest’s 15 points and 10 rebounds off the bench from Lamar Odom.
“Our defense was good and our rebounding was better,” Lakers coach Phil Jackson admitted.
“We got some loose balls, tipped balls. Those change the course of a game.”
Boston’s cause was dealt a severe blow in the first quarter when starting center Kendrick Perkins suffered a sprained knee and did not return. His availability for Game Seven is questionable.
“It was another body tonight (we could have used),” Boston coach Doc Rivers lamented. “It would not have mattered the way things were going but it would have been great to have him on the floor.”
Boston could have indeed used his presence. Despite Kevin Garnett’s 12 points, the Celtics were generally unable to convert second-chance opportunities and failed to have one player record double-figures in rebounding.
“We obviously didn’t (rebound),” said Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo, sporting an adhesive bandage on his chin after absorbing an elbow from Artest late in the game.
“This game is over and we have to move forward. It’s all or nothing.”
