The Boston Celtics captured their record 17th championship, and first since the Larry Bird era 22 years ago, by trouncing the Los Angeles Lakers 131-92 in the NBA Finals Game Six in Boston on Tuesday.
Playing in the shadow of 16 championship banners hanging from the rafters, Boston took control of the game in the second quarter and turned a four-point lead into a 58-35 advantage by intermission.
Forward Kevin Garnett and guard Ray Allen, off-season acquisitions by the Celtics, each had 26 points to lead Boston. Allen hit seven of nine from three-point range.
League MVP Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 22 points but hit only seven of 22 shots and was largely a non-factor after the opening quarter when he had 11 points.
