Ray Allen Sets NBA Finals Record With Eight Three-Pointers As Boston Evens Series at 1-1

After the Los Angeles Lakers had their way with the Boston Celtics in game one of the NBA Finals, the Celtics knew how important it was to bounce back and make the necessary adjustments coming into next game if they hoped to even the best of seven series at 1-1 going back to Boston.

The Celtics would play a nearly flawless first half as they would take a six-point lead into intermission (54-48). Ray Allen was huge in the first half as torched the Lakers’ defense for 27 points; including seven-three pointers in the first half and eight for the game. The second half and especially the fourth quarter would prove to be a see-saw battle as the teams exchanged the lead numerous times in the game’s closing minutes. However with the Lakers trailing 91-90, Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo would score on the next two Celtic possessions to help Boston stretch the lead to 95-90 and propel them to an seemingly improbable 103-94 victory handing the Lakers their first home playoff lost since the 2009 Western Conference Finals against the Denver Nuggets.

While Ray Allen all but carried the Celtics in the first half, it was Rajon Rondo’s clutch play down the stretch that helped Boston tie the series at 1-1. Rondo had 19 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists for his fifth career playoff triple-double and second one of this post-season. While Rondo has steadily shown that Boston is no longer just the big three of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce, they will need better production from both Garnett and Pierce during the next three games in Boston if the Celtics hope to win the series.

Sources:

“Allen, Rondo Help Celtics Get Even”, Greg Beacham, Chicago Sun-Times