LOS ANGELES - Did that really just happen?
Did something so pretty turn into something so ugly that quickly for the Lakers, who blew a 20-point third quarter lead and watched Boston pull out a 97-91 victory in Game 4 on Thursday at Staples Center?
Boston leads, 3-1, in the NBA Finals and can wrap up its 17th title here on Sunday.
The Lakers had a 70-50 lead with 6:04 remaining in the third period. From there to four minutes to go, Boston outscored the Lakers, 28-12, when Eddie House sank a 3-pointer to give the Celtics the lead at 84-83.
Derek Fisher sank a long jumper to pull the Lakers to 92-89 and Pau Gasol dunked to make it 94-91.
Ray Allen drove the lane for a layup to push it to 96-91 with 15.7 seconds remaining.
Kobe Bryant and Sasha Vujacic missed 3-pointers and Boston held on. Bryant had 17 points on 6-for-19 shooting.
No team in NBA history has come back from a 3-1 deficit to win the NBA title.
–Curtis Zupke, The Orange County Register
