Pierce loses handle on comeback

LOS ANGELES – Paul Pierce took the Boston Celtics to the brink of another improbable comeback and then let it slip out of his hands.

The All-Star scored 38 points in Game 5 of the NBA finals against Los Angeles on Sunday night, but twice in the final minutes let Kobe Bryant slap the ball away as the Lakers held on to win 103-98 and force the series back to Boston.

Game 6 is Tuesday night, and the Celtics would have another chance to close out their 17th NBA title on Thursday night if they need it.

The Celtics overcame a 24-point deficit to win Game 4 in Los Angeles, and they fell behind quickly in Game 5 as well. The Lakers took a 41-22 lead with the first basket of the second quarter, and again the Celtics mounted a comeback.

With the other starters resting or in foul trouble, Pierce scored 13 of Boston’s next 17 points and also helped out on the other two baskets with an assist and a steal as the Celtics cut a 41-22 deficit to four points with a 15-0 run.

Pierce, an L.A. native facing the team he followed as a kid, had 26 at the half and finished with eight assists and six rebounds while playing every minute until the very end.

But with just over 3 minutes left and the Celtics trailing 94-91, Bryant slapped the ball away from Pierce to make it a two-possession game. It was 97-95 when Pierce grabbed a rebound and brought the ball across halfcourt.

Again, Bryant poked it loose to Lamar Odom, who threw it upcourt to the streaking Bryant for a clinching dunk.

Odom, Gasol come through

Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol pulled disappearing acts after halftime in the first four games of the NBA finals, deferring to Lakers star Kobe Bryant.

The Los Angeles big men stood tall when Bryant struggled offensively after the first quarter in Game 5, and with that, the Lakers are going back to Boston.

Odom had 20 points, 11 rebounds and four blocked shots, Gasol added 19 points, 13 rebounds and six assists.

Odom, who had four points and two rebounds in the second half of the disastrous Game 4, had nine points and four rebounds after halftime of this game.

Gasol had 10 points and six rebounds in the second half, and made the go-ahead basket with 4:12 remaining. Odom added a pair of foul shots less than a minute later, then fed Bryant for the breakaway dunk that gave Los Angeles a four-point lead with 37.4 seconds left.

On Boston’s next possession, Odom rebounded a missed follow shot by Kevin Garnett, and the Lakers were home free.

Bavetta works Game 5

Dick Bavetta, the referee who worked one of the games Tim Donaghy alleged was rigged, officiated Game 5 of the NBA finals on Sunday night.

Bavetta worked Game 6 of the Western Conference finals, when the Los Angeles Lakers used a huge free-throw advantage in the fourth quarter to beat the Sacramento Kings and even a series they eventually won.

Donaghy, who has pleaded guilty to betting on games he officiated and taking cash payments from gamblers, alleged in a court filing this week that the NBA had two “company men” work that game and make calls that would help the Lakers win and set up a Game 7.

NBA commissioner David Stern later confirmed that the federal investigation into Donaghy included questions about Bavetta.

NBA spokesman Tim Frank said the league did not consider pulling Bavetta, in his 33rd season as an NBA referee. .