Tough Lakers beat Boston in opener

LOS ANGELES (AP):

The Los Angeles Lakers showed they were ready to withstand rough Boston tactics by beating the Celtics 102-89 in Thursday night's opening game of the NBA finals series.

Kobe Bryant scored 30 points and Pau Gasol had 23 points and 14 rebounds to give the Lakers the 1-0 series advantage in the 12th finals series clash between the two teams.

Ron Artest scored 15 points after tumbling to the ground in a tangle with Paul Pierce in the opening minute. Bryant and Gasol then led a gritty physical effort against the Celtics, who memorably pushed around the Lakers while winning their 2008 finals matchup in six games.

"They were the more physical team by far," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "They were more aggressive. They attacked us the entire night. I didn't think we handled it very well."

Pierce scored 24 points and Kevin Garnett added 16 after a slow start for the Celtics, who might not want to know that Lakers coach Phil Jackson's teams in Los Angeles and Chicago have won 47 straight play-off series after winning Game One.

"I wish I had put it in the bank, so to speak," said Jackson, the 10-time champion.

"We've got to play this out. ... Our defence stiffened at various points in the game, was very effective. We've got a lot of work ahead of us, but it's nice to know that (the 47-0 streak) is on our side."

Game Two is tomorrow in Los Angeles.

If the first 48 minutes of the rematch are any indication, this series again will be a knockdown, drag-out physical confrontation - and the supposedly finesse-oriented Lakers held their ground early.

Boston's Ray Allen scored 12 points in just 27 minutes, saddled with constant foul trouble while trying to guard Bryant. Pierce also picked up early fouls, while Garnett simply struggled, going seven for 16 from the field and grabbing just four rebounds - even inexplicably missing an open layup with 5¹/² minutes to play.