L.A. needs Big Dig

Boston

The season drifted a little further from the Lakers amid a frenzy of green and white, a solitary sign held up by a fan -- "Green for 17" -- acting as a strong reminder that the Boston Celtics were two victories from a 17th NBA championship.

Paul Pierce packed a punch, the Lakers couldn't come close to matching it until a too-late rally, and the Celtics took Game 2, 108-102, Sunday at TD Banknorth Garden.

Only three teams in league history have come back from 2-0 deficits to win the NBA Finals -- the Celtics in 1969 (against the Lakers), Portland in 1977 and Miami in 2006.

The series now shifts to Staples Center for Games 3, 4 and, if necessary, 5.

The Lakers couldn't be happier to be heading home.

They were surprisingly disheveled in Game 2, falling behind by as many as 24 points with 7 minutes 55 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Kobe Bryant had 30 points and eight assists, but that might have been it for the Lakers highlights, other than 17 points and 10 rebounds from Pau Gasol.

Lamar Odom looked "confused," according to Lakers Coach Phil Jackson, and Derek Fisher had almost as many fouls (five) as points (nine). Along those lines, the Lakers' reserves were systematically outplayed, yet again.

Pierce had 28 points three days after suffering a sprained right knee, and reserve forward Leon Powe had 21 points for the Celtics, making nine of 13 free throws in less than 15 minutes of playing time.

Despite history leaning heavily against the Lakers, Bryant was neither annoyed nor angry afterward.

"We've come too far to really sweat being down, 2-0," he said. "We're going to go home and handle our business."

The Lakers are 8-0 at home in the playoffs, but they might want to work on a few issues between now and Tuesday.

Their offense splintered amid a lack of cohesion, their 20 assists in 41 field goals failing to stand up to the Celtics' 31 assists in 36 baskets. (Rajon Rondo had 16 assists for the Celtics.)

Odom was bothered by foul trouble and again sat out a notable portion of the game, this time the entire fourth quarter. He finished with 10 points, eight rebounds, five fouls and a rebuke from his coach.

"Lamar got confused out there," Jackson said. "Situations that got him into foul trouble and little offensive sequences that, rather than just taking a shot or making the right play, [he] looked like he was a confused player out there at times. We'll try and get that straightened out."