Piercing Rally: Celtics Take Game 1

Carried off the court with a sprained right knee in the third quarter, Paul Pierce became the inspirational leader down the stretch as the Celtics beat the Los Angeles Lakers, 98-88, in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

Pierce left the game with under seven minutes remaining in the third after colliding with teammate Kendrick Perkins, but incredibly returned and had 19 of his 22 points in the final two quarters. That included back-to-back three- pointers that gave Boston the lead for good late in the third.

Kevin Garnett totaled 24 points and 13 rebounds, while Ray Allen added 19 points and eight rebounds in the win. In the first Finals game for Boston's big three of Garnett, Pierce and Allen, the trio combined to shoot 21-of-45, carrying the offensive load in Boston's first NBA Finals game since 1987.