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Enlarge PhotoLos Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (R) scores in the second half of play as... Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers produced a sizzling display at both ends of the court to beat the Boston Celtics 102-89 in Game One of the NBA Finals on Thursday.In a bruising contest at Staples Center, 12-times All-Star guard Bryant scored 30 points and Spanish forward Pau Gasol 23 for the Lakers, chasing a second consecutive title and 16th overall.
The Lakers, who were outplayed and outmuscled by the Celtics in the 2008 Finals, delivered one of their best defensive displays of the season in holding their opponents to 43.3 percent shooting from the field.
Gasol, considered 'soft' by some critics two years ago, contributed 14 rebounds and three blocked shots on Thursday while forward Ron Artest, a formidable defender who joined the Lakers in the off-season, weighed in with 15 points.
The Lakers shot 48.7 percent from the floor.
Boston captain and forward Paul Pierce recorded 24 points for the Celtics, who are bidding for a record 18th NBA championship.
Game Two in the best-of-seven series between the league's most storied franchises takes place in Los Angeles on Sunday.
DOUBLE TECHNICAL
A physical encounter was always on the cards and Pierce and Artest were slapped with technical fouls in the opening minute following an off-the-ball grapple under the basket.
Defending superbly, the Lakers twice led by six points early on but were pegged back to 18-18, before taking a 26-21 advantage after a first quarter littered with 28 fouls and 27 free throws.
The Lakers tightened their grip in the second period, Artest sparking an 11-2 run with a three-point jumper and a driving layup as the home team built a 50-41 lead at half-time.
With a sellout crowd chanting "Boston sucks" in the third quarter, Los Angeles maintained control, a superb assist from Derek Fisher setting up Bryant for an alley-oop dunk to put them 75-62 clear.
An Artest three-pointer with 28 seconds left on the clock in the third earned the Lakers a commanding 84-64 lead going into the final period.
Los Angeles never relaxed their grip and Bryant fittingly ended the scoring for the night with a three-point jump shot with 3.6 seconds left on the clock.
(Editing by Alastair Himmer; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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