Nov. 23, 2007 at Boston: Celtics 107, Lakers 94
The Celtics led the entire way after a 2-2 tie. Ray Allen (18 points), Kevin Garnett (21 points, 11 rebounds), and Paul Pierce (20 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists) carried most of the load, but Kendrick Perkins had a career-high 21 points and grabbed 9 rebounds, helping improve the Celtics' record to 10-1, including 7-0 at home. Point guard Rajon Rondo chipped in 6 points and 10 assists, and the Boston bench contributed 21 points. The Celtics shot 50.6 percent and held the Lakers to 42.2 percent. Coach Doc Rivers planned to use a Ray Allen-Tony Allen-Pierce-James Posey rotation on Bryant, but Ray Allen guarded Bryant most of the night. He limited Bryant to 8 points in the first quarter (he had 28 overall), and the Lakers star was scoreless in the second quarter as the Celtics took a 53-35 halftime lead.
Dec. 30, 2007 at Los Angeles: Celtics 110, Lakers 91
Staples Center was Boston's last stop on a four-game trip, and this victory gave the Celtics an NBA-best record of 26-3 and eight straight road wins. They also temporarily stopped Lakers coach Phil Jackson from passing Celtics patriarch Red Auerbach on the all-time coaching win list (they were tied at 938). Pierce led the team with 33 points. This one was plenty physical, with seven technical fouls called. Early on, technicals were given to Garnett and Perkins as well as Lakers Bryant and Trevor Ariza. Rivers also received one in the second quarter. Also in the second quarter, Garnett started to bleed from a cut above his eye after contact with center Andrew Bynum. The scrapping continued with 2:57 left in the fourth quarter, as Lamar Odom was given a flagrant foul for a rolling body block on Ray Allen, who also drew a technical. Many of the Lakers fans missed it, as they began their exodus with 9:25 left.
SUSAN CHOY
