Mattie T’s Game 6 Recap of the 2010 NBA Finals
Written by The Go-To-Man Mattie T. on June 16, 2010
With their backs against the wall, the Los Angeles Lakers responded with one of their best postseason performances to date with a 89-67 win over the Boston Celtics on Tuesday, which now sets up a championship-clinching Game 7 on Thursday evening.
Ron Artest came through with his biggest performance to date in the Finals, as he scored 15 points & grabbed 6 rebounds to compliment both Kobe Bryant (26 points, 11 rebounds) & Pau Gasol (17 points, 13 rebounds & 9 assists).
Ray Allen led Boston with 19 points, but Kevin Garnett & Paul Pierce were held to a combined 25 points between them.
The Celtics have a big concern going into Thursday’s Game 7, as Kendrick Perkins suffered a right knee sprain just six minutes into the first quarter & had to leave. His status is currently unknown.
In the longstanding vintage history of these two teams, Boston has the advantage by winning all four of the Game 7’s played over Los Angeles, even though they haven’t won one since 1984.
Thursday will be the 17th career Game 7 in Finals History & the first since 2005, as the San Antonio Spurs outlasted the Detroit Pistons to capture the NBA title.
Phil Jackson has never coached a Game 7 in the Finals, but Doc Rivers has already taken part of one as a player. His New York Knicks blew a 3-2 lead in the 1994 NBA Finals & wound up losing to the Houston Rockets in seven games.
