The Boston Celtics (38–14) lost to their long time NBA rivals the Los Angeles Lakers (37–16) on Thursday night 92–86 at the TD Garden, where Celtics veteran Ray Allen set a new record for all-time 3-pointers.
Allen surpassed Reggie Miller’s record of 1,560 3-pointers in the final minutes of the first quarter with his second 3-pointer of the quarter.
Miller, who was one of the TNT sportscasters for the night, was there to congratulate Allen in person with a hug as the sold-out crowd erupted in a standing ovation.
“It’s so serendipitous that it happened the way it happened,” Allen said.
“For us to be sitting here, Reggie’s in the building and he’s in the building able to work the game. He just told me he was proud of me and he was excited for me. He said he was glad that he could be here in this moment.”
“I’m just so happy for him because this is one of the best guys,” Miller said on TNT. “He’s so humble, he’s so giving, he’s a great family man and I’m excited. This is great for the game of basketball.”
Allen’s first quarter greatness rubbed off on the Celtics, as the team came to dominate the game with a 15-point lead in the second quarter before finishing the half up 53–45.
But the Lakers would battle back in the early minutes of the third quarter to tie the score at 53–53 and then overtake the Celtics, led in scoring by Kobe Bryant.
The Lakers kept their lead for the rest of the game, and Bryant fended off a Celtics run late in the fourth quarter that put them within three points.
“It was important. We needed to prove to ourselves that we could come into this hostile environment and win,” Bryant told TNT after the game.
The Lakers outmuscled the Celtics in the paint, scoring more points and outrebounding Boston thanks to the height advantage of Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, and Lamar Odom.
Bryant led the Lakers in scoring with 23 points followed by Gasol with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
The Celtics were led by Allen with 20 points while the entire starting lineup reached double-digit scoring. Rajon Rondo and Kevin Garnett had double-doubles with 12 points and 10 assists and 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Allen surpassed Reggie Miller’s record of 1,560 3-pointers in the final minutes of the first quarter with his second 3-pointer of the quarter.
Miller, who was one of the TNT sportscasters for the night, was there to congratulate Allen in person with a hug as the sold-out crowd erupted in a standing ovation.
“It’s so serendipitous that it happened the way it happened,” Allen said.
“For us to be sitting here, Reggie’s in the building and he’s in the building able to work the game. He just told me he was proud of me and he was excited for me. He said he was glad that he could be here in this moment.”
“I’m just so happy for him because this is one of the best guys,” Miller said on TNT. “He’s so humble, he’s so giving, he’s a great family man and I’m excited. This is great for the game of basketball.”
Allen’s first quarter greatness rubbed off on the Celtics, as the team came to dominate the game with a 15-point lead in the second quarter before finishing the half up 53–45.
But the Lakers would battle back in the early minutes of the third quarter to tie the score at 53–53 and then overtake the Celtics, led in scoring by Kobe Bryant.
The Lakers kept their lead for the rest of the game, and Bryant fended off a Celtics run late in the fourth quarter that put them within three points.
“It was important. We needed to prove to ourselves that we could come into this hostile environment and win,” Bryant told TNT after the game.
The Lakers outmuscled the Celtics in the paint, scoring more points and outrebounding Boston thanks to the height advantage of Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, and Lamar Odom.
Bryant led the Lakers in scoring with 23 points followed by Gasol with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
The Celtics were led by Allen with 20 points while the entire starting lineup reached double-digit scoring. Rajon Rondo and Kevin Garnett had double-doubles with 12 points and 10 assists and 10 points and 11 rebounds.
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