Bryant, Lakers avoid another collapse, stay alive with Game 5 win

Kobe Bryant scored 25 points and, despite scoring only 10 points after the first quarter, and with the Lakers squandering leads of 19 and 14 points, Los Angeles stayed alive with a 103-98 win over the Boston Celtics in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

The Lakers overcame a 38-point performance by Boston's Paul Pierce, and trail three games to two in the best-of-seven set.

Lamar Odom scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, and Pau Gasol had 19 points and 13 boards for the Lakers, who nearly re-enacted their epic collapse in Game 4, when they led by 24 points in the first half only to lose, 97-91, and fall into a 1-3 hole in the series.

Continued at My Sportsbook...