Deadlocked at Two Games Apiece, Celtics Host Lakers in Crucial Game 5 Tilt

We're heading down that home stretch. Two or three games away from the end of the road, both teams are ready to make one final push in their quest for a championship.

Both the Celtics and the Lakers are banged up, but as they head into Game 5 of the NBA Finals in Boston, they're ready to give it everything they've got. They're tied 2-2, and suddenly both teams are looking at a virtual must-win. The urgency is there.

"At this point in the year, when the end is in sight," said Lakers coach Phil Jackson, "it makes it a lot easier."

When and Where

Celtics vs. Lakers
Sunday, June 13, 8 p.m. (ABC)
TD Garden, Boston, Mass.

Head to Head

Finally, with a 96-89 win over the Lakers in Game 4, the Celtics have beaten the Lakers on their home floor. It was the first time since 2008, when the C's blew out L.A. in Game 6 of the NBA Finals at the TD Garden. Now, if they can win at home again, the Celtics will be in prime position to finish off this year's Finals and raise banner No. 18. Win, and the C's head to L.A. with two chances to finish the series; lose, and they hit the road desperate for back-to-back wins. Now would be a good time for the Celtics to step up in front of their home crowd.

Key Matchup

Kendrick Perkins vs. Andrew Bynum
Quite frankly, both guys have problems. For Perkins, it's the nagging technical difficulties — with six technical fouls in this postseason, he's one away from picking up a one-game suspension. A tech in a Game 5 loss would mean the C's face an elimination Game 6 with no starting center, and that's not an appetizing thought. For Bynum, the problem is his injured knee, which he's had drained twice now during these Finals, and he's struggled to find a rhythm with the ailment. Both centers will play tentatively, each for their own reasons. Who will be more effective?

Starting Lineups

Celtics
Point guard: Rajon Rondo
Shooting guard: Ray Allen
Small forward: Paul Pierce
Power forward: Kevin Garnett
Center: Kendrick Perkins

Lakers
Point guard: Derek Fisher
Shooting guard: Kobe Bryant
Small forward: Ron Artest
Power forward: Pau Gasol
Center: Andrew Bynum

Stat Sheet

Celtics

• The Celtics' bench outscored the Lakers' bench 36-18 in Game 4. Glen Davis led the way with 18 points while Nate Robinson added 12.
• Ray Allen leads the NBA this postseason in 3-point field goals made (52) and attempted (129).
• Paul Pierce has career averages of 25.7 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game against the Lakers, his childhood favorite team.

Lakers

• Kobe Bryant shot 10-of-22 in Game 4 for 33 points. He's averaged 28.3 points per game in this series.
• Pau Gasol made nine of his 10 free-throw attempts in Game 4. He's 30-of-39 from the line in this series.
• Lamar Odom has 14.5 points and 9.1 rebounds per game against the Celtics in his career.

Black and Blue

Celtics

• Marquis Daniels played a mere seven seconds in Game 4, his first game action since suffering a concussion in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals in Orlando.
• Rasheed Wallace has played through back pain in this series. He insists that it hasn't been a factor.

Lakers

• Andrew Bynum had his knee drained again this week. He's playing in considerable pain, but he says he's "100 percent sure" he'll play in Game 5.

Outlook

The Celtics won Game 4 with their bench, proving at least for now that they're the deeper, more versatile team. But can the Lakers push back in Game 5, showing that they've got some unsung heroes of their own? Who will be the Glen Davis or Nate Robinson this time? It could be Shannon Brown, Jordan Farmar or even Sasha Vujacic. In this series, you just never know. There's a new hero every night. The Celtics have to be prepared to stop every Laker that comes at them, from the biggest star to the guy they least expect.