Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers played as if their basketball careers depended on a victory in Game 6. From the opening tip-off, the Lakers jumped all over the Boston Celtics, who were one win away from being the 2010 NBA Finals champions. But Bryant’s 26 points and the team’s smothering defense allowed the Lakers to build a 20-point lead at halftime.
The Celtics never recovered from the Lakers opening onslaught and lost the game by a final score of 89-67. Paul Pierce and Ray Allen finished with 19 points, but the Celtics suffered from Rajon Rondo’s lackluster game. Throughout the series, the Celtics have played extremely well whenever Rondo played aggressively.
The Lakers, on the other hand, got a much-needed boost from their bench players and Pau Gasol, who finished one assist shy of a triple-double.
With an NBA title on the line, the two teams will face off Thursday. When it’s all done, which team will be the 2010 NBA Finals champions? –a.r.
