Paul Pierce answered that with a fadeaway to make it a four-point game.Kobe Bryant, usually automatic in these situations, then missed the first of two free throws before making the second. Kevin Garnett, on a pass from Rasheed Wallace, put down one of the few dunks in this game on the next possession.
The Lakers continue to push the ball inside and draw fouls, and Gasol returned to the line with 2:47 to play. He made both to get the lead back to five.
After swarming defense led to a miss by Wallace, the Celtics fouled again and sent Gasol back to the line. He made one of two, 74-68.
Boston's turn at the line, Pierce this time.
Two free throws later, the lead was down to four.
Gasol then backed down Wallace and dropped in a bucket to give the Lakers a 76-70 lead and produce a Boston timeout. The Lakers are feeling a second straight NBA title.
Fourth quarter, 5:21 remaining: Lakers 68, Celtics 64
It didn't take much time for Boston to call a timeout. Kobe Bryant made two free throws, then sank an 18-foot jumper -- the one thing the Celtics didn't want to see -- to give the Lakers a 68-64 lead.
Bryant is only six for 22 from the field, but has 20 points. Boston clearly didn't want to allow the Lakers to get the crowd any more into the game than it already is.
Fourth quarter, 5:56 remaining: Celtics 64, Lakers 64
Kobe Bryant went to the line for three free throws after being fouled by Ray Allen. At that point, the Lakers were only nine for 17 from the line, but Bryant made all three to cut Boston's lead to one, 59-58.
Allen then came right back and sank a baseline jumper. The Lakers' offensive juggernaut, Ron Artest, then drove across the lane for a bucket and a foul with 7:29 to play and he tied the score. The Lakers' crowed sounded like it had been transplanted from Oklahoma City.
Allen briefly quieted things by drawing a foul, but enlivened things when he missed the first of two free throws. He made the second and Boston was back on top by one.
Both teams are playing with a lot of emotion, diving for loose balls and playing tight defense inside.
The Lakers' free-throw problems continued when Gasol missed two free throws for the second time tonight, failing to give the Lakers a lead when he had the chance. He is two for seven from the line.
Allen had no such problem, making two with 6:29 to play to push the tentative lead to 64-61.
But Derek Fisher, who had just returned to the game, canned a three-pointer shortly thereafter and the score was suddenly tied.
