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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Celtics, Lakers showed effects of long trip

Tom Withers Associated Press

LOS ANGELES – Maybe the NBA finals should book an appointment with one of Southern California’s finest plastic surgeons.

After a shabby, sluggish Game 3, featuring enough air balls and air-headed plays for seven games, the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers could use a few nips, tucks and lifts. Another good night’s sleep or afternoon nap might help, too.

“It wasn’t the prettiest game,” said Celtics center Kevin Garnett, who missed two dunks and seems to have left his shooting touch back in May.

For two franchises that have combined for 30 titles won by a Who’s Who of Hall of Fame hoopsters, it was indeed a night to forget.

But playing in front of Jack, Denzel, Hef and the rest of their celebrity-laden crowd in Staples Center, where they’re 9-0 in the postseason and perfect over the past two months, the Lakers, despite missing 13 free throws, pulled within 2-1 in the reborn rivalry series with an 87-81 win Tuesday night.

Boston, for its many warts, which included a 35 percent shooting performance, still had a chance win.

As the teams practiced for tonight’s Game 4, several players blamed the six-hour flight from Boston to Los Angeles for the sloppiness.

“I think most of the players out there struggled physically,” Lakers center Pau Gasol said. “You could tell the travel and Game 2 and 3 being so tight together, going across the country pretty much is an overseas trip. I think that was a factor.”

Celtics coach Doc Rivers, too, noticed players may have been feeling the affects of jet lag and fighting fatigue.

“This was the first game that I had four or five different players during the game signal to pull them out,” he said. “I thought it was a very tough turnaround and I think rest is very important.”

One guy seems refreshed. Kobe Bryant soared as usual.

The Lakers’ superstar scored 36 points and did what he had to do to get his team back into the finals. Bryant went 12 of 20 from the floor, dropping jumpers, sinking floaters and drawing double teams to set up his teammates.

However, only one of them – Sasha Vujacic – matched Bryant’s production. The 24-year-old came off the bench and scored a career-high 20 points, but he was the only Lakers player besides Bryant to rise to the occasion.

Los Angeles’ other four starters – Gasol, Vladimir Radmanovic, Lamar Odom and Derek Fisher – combined for 22 points on 7-of-28 shooting. For the second straight game, Odom was plagued by foul trouble.

“I have to stay aggressive,” Odom said, “but it’s hard to when you’re not out on the floor.”

The Celtics have their own problems, like getting Garnett going and hoping that Paul Pierce, who had a horrid homecoming in Game 2, doesn’t choke under the pressure of playing in front of folks from his neighborhood in nearby Inglewood.

There’s also the playing status of point guard Rajon Rondo, who injured his left ankle early in the second half of Game 3 and didn’t practice Wednesday.

Rivers said if the speedy Rondo is slowed by the injury that backups Eddie House and Sam Cassell would see more time. Rivers also may use Tony Allen, who hasn’t played in the series but did a solid job of guarding Bryant during Boston’s two regular-season wins over Los Angeles.