Boston Celtics stop Los Angeles Lakers for 3-2 series lead

The Boston Celtics used the outside shooting of Paul Pierce and a superior inside game to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers 92-86 in the NBA Finals on Sunday and move within one victory of a record 18th championship.

Pierce had his best game of the series, scoring 27 points on 12 of 21 shooting from the floor. But the Celtics won the battle inside where they outscored the Lakers 46-32.  

Boston holds a 3-2 lead but the best-of-seven series now shifts to the Staples Center in Los Angeles where the Celtics must either win Game Six on Tuesday, or, if necessary, Game Seven on Thursday.

Los Angeles guard Kobe Bryant had 38 points, including 19 in the third quarter, but the Lakers suffered from a lack of balanced scoring. Pau Gasol scored 12 points as the only Laker other than Bryant to reach double figures.