Game 1 in the NBA Finals goes to the Lakers 102-89
compiled from staff and wire reports
The Los Angeles Lakers treated their star-studded celebrity crowd to a dominating performance against Boston on Thursday night at the Staples Center.
Courtside fans included: Dustin Hoffman, Jason Bateman, Jerry West, Leonardo DiCaprio, Charlize Theron, Adam Sandler, Kevin James, David Spade, Chris Rock, Hilary Swank, Mike Epps, Alyssa Milano, Snoop Dogg, Steven Spielberg, Terrell Owens, Floyd Mayweather, Jr., Will Farrell, David Duchovy and Rhona Mitra.
Ron Artest LA Lakers (nba)
The Los Angeles Lakers were ready for the Boston Celtics rough, physical style this time around.
Kobe Bryant scored 30 points, Pau Gasol had 23 points and 14 rebounds, and the defending champion Los Angeles got tough from the outset in their 102-89 win over Boston in the NBA finals opener Thursday night.
Ron Artest scored 15 points after tumbling to the ground in a tangle with Paul Pierce in the opening minute of the 12th finals meeting in one of the NBA’s oldest rivalries.
The Lakers remembered how they were pushed all over the court in the 2008 Finals and vowed it would never happen again.
Paul Pierce scored 24 points and Kevin Garnett added 16 for Boston which started slow and couldn’t recover.
