NBA Game Summary - Boston at LA Lakers

02.23.2005

Los Angeles, CA (Basketball News) - Chris Mihm scored 19 points and pulled down 15 rebounds to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 104-95 victory over Boston at Staples Center. Lamar Odom added 21 with 11 boards in the win.

Kobe Bryant also had 21 for the Lakers, who won for just the third time in eight games. Jumaine Jones contributed 14 for Los Angeles, which beat the Celtics for the fourth straight time.

"Ragged first half, what you’d expect coming off the All-Star break," said Lakers coach Frank Hamblen. "Our guys got into it in the second half. I’m really proud of them. Special stars for Odom and Mihm, I though they really played well."

Ricky Davis and Paul Pierce each scored 25 to lead the Celtics, who lost for just the third time in nine games. Boston opened a four-game road trip.

Boston led by two after three quarters, but Odom scored to begin the final frame to tie the game at 74-74. The Lakers went up 77-76 on a free throw by Brian Grant and a three-pointer by Jones gave LA an 80-76 advantage early in the fourth quarter.

Four straight points by Odom stretched the Lakers’ lead to 85-78 after Boston pulled within three. Bryant’s reverse layup with 3:39 left gave the Lakers a 94-84 lead.

Bryant was fouled as he buried a 10-foot jumper and completed the three-point play with 2:39 remaining to give the Lakers a 98-86 lead. The Celtics would get only as close as the final score the rest of the way.

The Celtics led by four at halftime and stretched the lead to nine in the third quarter before the Lakers closed strong to cut the Boston lead to 74-72 heading into the final frame.

A jumper by Davis gave Boston a 15-13 lead in the early going and the Celtics would hold on for a 27-22 advantage through the opening 12 minutes. The Celtics, who shot 50 percent from the field in the first half, would lead until a three-pointer by Tierre Brown gave Los Angeles a 44-43 lead late in the second quarter.

Boston, though, closed the half with an 8-3 run. Marcus Banks and Davis each had four points to give the Celtics a 51-47 halftime lead.

Boston has lost 11 of its last 14 road games...The Celtics return home on March 2 to host the Lakers...Los Angeles was just 28-of-41 from the free throw line, while the Celtics ended 22-of-32 from the stripe...The Lakers outrebounded Boston, 54-32...Los Angeles forward Caron Butler missed the game with a stomach virus.

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