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Rivalry Renewed, Again: Celtics-Lakers In 2010 NBA Finals

The NBA’s two most decorated franchises, the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers, have grown their rivalry over 50 years. From 1959-2008, the Celtics and Lakers met in the NBA Finals 11 times, with Boston taking the titles early and most often. In June 2010, the Lakers took Round 12.

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2010 NBA Finals:

Game 1: Lakers 102, Celtics 89

Kobe Bryant scored 30 points, Pau Gasol had 23 points and 14 rebounds, and defending champion Los Angeles got tough in a 102-89 Game 1 victory.

Game 2: Celtics 103, Lakers 94

Ray Allen set a Finals three-point record and Rajon Rondo had his fifth postseason triple-double with 19 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists to lead Boston to a 103-94 victory over Los Angeles.

Game 3: Lakers 91, Celtics 84

One game after setting a sharp-shooting record, Ray Allen's misfiring and Derek Fisher's late baskets helped Los Angeles win 91-84 and take a 2-1 lead in the NBA Finals.

Game 4: Celtics 96, Lakers 89

Glen "Big Baby" Davis led the Celtics bench on a game-changing run, scoring half of his 18 points in the fourth quarter as Boston pulled away from the Los Angeles Lakers to win 96-89 and knot the best-of-seven series at two games apiece.

Game 5: Celtics 92, Lakers 86

Paul Pierce scored 27 points — his best performance of this year’s finals — and the Celtics withstood 38 points from Kobe Bryant to beat the defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers 92-86 and take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Game 6: Lakers 89, Celtics 67

Kobe Bryant scored 26 points, Pau Gasol added 17 points and 13 rebounds, and the Lakers emphatically earned a grand finale with a 89-67 victory over the Celtics.

Game 7: Lakers 83, Celtics 79

The Los Angeles Lakers won their 16th NBA championship, dramatically rallying from a fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Boston Celtics 83-79 in Game 7 of the NBA finals.

This program aired on June 2, 2010. The audio for this program is not available.

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