NBA Playoffs 2008
Western Conference Finals
Los Angeles Lakers 1 – San Antonio Spurs 0
Eastern Conference Finals
Boston Celtics 1 – Detroit Pistons 1
San Antonio Spurs 85 – Los Angeles Lakers 89
Kobe Bryant scored all but two of his 27 points after halftime, including a go-ahead, 10-foot jumper in the lane with 23.9 seconds remaining, and the Lakers rallied from a 20-point deficit to beat the Spurs 89-85 on in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals. Bryant, who finished with 9 assists and 5 rebounds, shot 1-for-3 in the first half and 10-for-18 in the second. Pau Gasol had 19 points and 7 rebounds, Shasha Vujacic and Vladimir Radmanovic scored 10 points apiece, and Lamar Odom had 8 points and 8 rebounds for the Lakers.
Tim Duncan led the Spurs with 30 points, 18 rebounds and 4 blocked shots. Tony Parker had 18 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists; Bruce Bowen scored 12 points, and Manu Ginobili added 10 for the Spurs.
Detroit Pistons 103 – Boston Celtics 97
Richard Hamilton bounced back from a poor series opener with 25 points, and the Pistons beat the Celtics 103-97, tying the conference finals at one game apiece and seizing the home-court advantage that has meant everything to the Celtics. Chauncey Billups had 19 points and 7 assists, and his rookie backup, Rodney Stuckey hit some clutch jumpers in the fourth quarter and added 13 points for the Pistons. Antonio McDyess scored 15 points, Tayshaun Prince had 14 points, and Rasheed Wallace had 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Pistons.
Kevin Garnett had 24 points and 13 rebounds for the Celtics, who lost at home for the first time since March 24 against Phoenix. No team has reached the Finals without a road victory, and there’s no longer a chance for Boston to be the first. Paul Pierce scored 26 points for the Celtics, who had won 15 straight at home and gone 9-0 in the playoffs. Ray Allen broke out of a shooting slump with 25 points, his best performance in three months.
Source: ESPN: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/index
