Celtics win to extend finals lead

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NBA Highlights: Celtics beat Lakers in game two

A furious fightback from the LA Lakers was not enough to stop the Boston Celtics taking a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven NBA finals series.

The Celtics had led by 24 points but a late rally saw the Lakers trail 104-102 with just 22 seconds remaining.

However, Paul Pierce scored two free throws to give Boston the cushion they needed to seal a 108-102 victory.

The teams now head to the West Coast with the Lakers needing to win at least two of their three home games.

"I wasn't happy about the way we ended the game," said Celtics coach Doc Rivers.

"But we're up 2-0 and now we have to go on the road.

"We've got to play through 48 minutes and I didn't think we did that.

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"I think we got cute when we got the lead. We started trying to make sensational plays instead of keeping it simple."

Pierce, who left the court during the first game in a wheelchair due to a knee injury only to make a dramatic return, showed no ill effects from that injury to lead the Celtics with 28 points.

The Lakers ended the first quarter 22-20 in front, but a 10-0 run from the Eastern Conference champions at the start of the second saw them take a 54-42 advantage into half-time.

It was a lead they were never to relinquish and they increased the pressure after the interval to open up a 16-point cushion, before the Lakers hit back to reduce the deficit to nine.

A 13-0 run saw Boston take control again with a 81-59 lead at the end of the third quarter.

But they were made to dig deep for the win as the Lakers found their range from deep, hitting an NBA finals record equalling seven three-pointers in the final quarter.

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant top-scored with 30 points, but it wasn't enough as Boston held on to take a 2-0 lead.