Allen, Rondo lead Celtics past Lakers

LOS ANGELES (AP):

Ray Allen scored 27 of his 32 points in the first half with a record-setting three-point shooting display, as the Boston Celtics evened the NBA finals with a 103-94 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Two on Sunday night.

Allen hit a finals-record eight three-pointers in a dazzling effort for the Celtics and Rajon Rondo racked up 19 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in his fifth play-off triple-double to hand Los Angeles their first home loss of the post-season.

"An entire team effort," Rondo said. "Ray carried us through the first half. Second half, we got in a little slump but we stuck with it, stayed together and got a victory."

Kobe Bryant scored 21 points while battling more foul trouble for the Lakers, who could not catch up to Boston's dynamic guards in Los Angeles' first home play-off loss since last season's Western Conference finals.

Gasol scores 25 points

Pau Gasol had 25 points and eight rebounds for the Lakers and Andrew Bynum added 21 points and six rebounds.

Game Three is tonight in Boston.

The teams traded the lead throughout the period, but Rondo's heady lay-up put the Celtics ahead 91-90 with 3:21 to play. The play was vintage Rondo, as he scooted in to collect the ball and score after Pau Gasol blocked a shot.

Kevin Garnett then hit a jumper and after another possession of stifling defence, Rondo hit another jumper, celebrating with a swing of his arm in the mostly silent Staples Centre.

After the Lakers' whistle-plagued 102-89 victory in the opener, both teams again struggled under the weight of foul trouble. Garnett and Bryant both spent extra time on the bench, with Bryant picking up his fifth foul early in the fourth.

Garnett had just six points and Paul Pierce never got going, scoring 10 on 2-of-11 shooting. The Celtics also struggled against the Lakers' low-post game.