Game 7: Lakers 83, Celtics 79 

GameTracker | Box Score | Full Play-by-Play | Shot Chart



















Purple and gold confetti raining down upon him, Kobe Bryant hopped up on the scorer's table, shook his fists and extended five fingers.

When he hopped down, Boston's legendary Hall of Fame center Bill Russell was waiting to shake his hand.

A Game 7 classic - and this time, it finally went the Lakers' way.

Bryant, the finals MVP, scored 23 points despite 6-of-24 shooting, and the Lakers won their 16th NBA championship Thursday night, dramatically rallying from a fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Celtics 83-79 in Game 7 of the NBA finals. Full Recap

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2010 NBA Finals

Game 1:    Lakers 102, Celtics 89 Gamecenter | Recap | Berger | Doyel 
Game 2:    Celtics 103, Lakers 94 Gamecenter | Recap | Berger | Doyel   
Game 3:    Lakers 91, Celtics 84 Gamecenter | Recap | Berger | Freeman     
Game 4:    Celtics 96, Lakers 89 Gamecenter | Recap | Berger | Freeman     
Game 5:    Celtics 92, Lakers 86 Gamecenter | Recap | Berger | Freeman     
Game 6:    Lakers 89, Celtics 67 Gamecenter | Recap | Berger | Doyel     
Game 7:    Lakers 83, Celtics 79 Gamecenter | Recap | Berger | Doyel

The Lakers took Game 7 on the free throw line, but Ray Allen and Paul Pierce going a combined 8 for 29 didn't help much either...


HOT SHOT - Derek Fisher







10 Points

Field Goal Selection
Layups: 0-1
Jumpers: 4-5
Dunks: 0-0
 
Scoring Breakdown
FGs: 4-6
3FG: 2-2
FT: 0-0

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COLD SHOT - Paul Pierce


18 Points

Field Goal Selection
Layups: 0-1
Jumpers: 5-13
Dunks: 0-0
 
Scoring Breakdown
FGs: 5-15
3FG: 2-3
FT: 6-6




COLD SHOT - Ray Allen







13 Points

Field Goal Selection
Layups: 0-1
Jumpers: 3-13
Dunks: 0-0
 
Scoring Breakdown
FGs: 3-14
3FG: 2-7
FT: 5-6

9 p.m. ET: Celtics at Lakers - (Series tied, 3-3)

• Kendrick Perkins down and out - (Boston Herald)
• Rasheed Wallace and Glen Davis step in to Game 7 spotlight - (Boston Herald)
• Relaxed Rajon Rondo is the key - (Boston Herald)
• Celtics’ Big Three faces final curtain call - (Boston Herald)
• Game 7 something new for these Lakers - (Boston Globe)
• Celtics legends know all about Game 7 pressure - (Boston Globe)
• Rivers could be going out on top - (Boston Globe)
• Pau Gasol too focused on the World Cup? - (Los Angeles Times)
• Andrew Bynum plans to play in Game 7 - (Lost Angeles Times)
• Kobe looking to match Jerry West's Game 7 totals - (Los Angeles Times)

Game 6 was less about the Lakers hot shooting and more about the Celtics' frozen fingers. Boston couldn't get solid offensive production from any of the stars, and, this time, X-factor Rajon Rondo missed the mark.

Did we pick the right players? Who would you add? Which player would you subtract? Check out the full Shot Chart.

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HOT SHOT - Ron Artest







15 Points

Field Goal Selection
Layups: 1-2
Jumpers: 5-9
Dunks: 0-0

Scoring Breakdown
FGs: 6-11
3FG: 3-6
FT: 0-0

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COLD SHOT - Rajon Rondo







10 Points

Field Goal Selection
Layups: 2-5
Jumpers: 3-9
Dunks: 0-1

Scoring Breakdown
FGs: 5-15
3FG: 0-1
FT: 0-2



COLD SHOT - Rasheed Wallace







0 Points

Field Goal Selection
Layups: 0-0
Jumpers: 0-7
Dunks: 0-0
 
Scoring Breakdown
FGs: 0-7
3FG: 0-6
FT: 0-0

9 p.m. ET: Celtics at Lakers - (Boston leads, 3-2)

• Celtics on the verge of ruining Lakers again - (Los Angeles Times)
• Lakers have to hope home is where their heart is - (Los Angeles Times)
• Ray Allen's three-point-shooting 'curse' - (Los Angeles Times)
• Closing series on road could be tough for Celtics - (Los Angeles Times)
• It's simple for Lakers: Just win two at home - (LA Daily News)
• Celtics beat doubters, now look to finish LA - (Boston Herald)
• Kevin Garnett walking the walk - (Boston Herald)
• Boston fans harbor sixth sense about a win - (Boston Herald)
• 21st century a banner time for Boston - (Boston Herald)
• Celtics have zero margin for error in Game 6 - (Boston Herald)
• History of glory: Celts have always been tough away from home - (Boston Globe)
• It's now or never... Game 6 is all about momentum - (Boston Globe)

In Game 5, the Lakers couldn't get any help for Kobe Bryant, leaving Pau Gasol as the teams second highest scorer, with 12 points. The Celtics, meanwhile, put four players in to double digits... including potent X-factor Rajon Rondo.

Did we pick the right players? Who would you add? Who would you take off the list? Check out the full Shot Chart.

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HOT SHOT - Rajon Rondo







18 Points

Field Goal Selection
Layups: 7-9
Jumpers: 2-4
Dunks: 0-0
 
Scoring Breakdown
FGs: 9-12
3FG: 0-0
FT: 0-0


HOT SHOTS - Paul Pierce







27 Points

Field Goal Selection
Layups: 2-3
Jumpers: 10-18
Dunks: 0-0
 
Scoring Breakdown
FGs: 12-21
3FG: 2-4
FT: 1-2

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COLD SHOTS - Ron Artest







7 Points

Field Goal Selection
Layups: 0-2
Jumpers: 2-7
Dunks: 0-0
 
Scoring Breakdown
FGs: 2-9
3FG: 2-5
FT: 1-4



COLD SHOTS - Derek Fisher







9 Points

Field Goal Selection
Layups: 0-1
Jumpers: 2-8
Dunks: 0-0
 
Scoring Breakdown
FGs: 2-9
3FG: 0-1
FT: 5-5