L.A. Lakers 92, Boston 86

Kobe Bryant scored 20 of his game-high 23 points in the second half, and the Los Angeles Lakers spoiled Ray Allen’s record-breaking night with a 92-86 victory over the host Boston Celtics on Thursday in a rematch of last season’s NBA Finals.

Bryant rallied the Lakers (37-16) from a 15-point second-quarter deficit in a game that also featured Allen breaking Reggie Miller’s record for career 3-pointers.

Allen passed Miller with 1:48 remaining in the first quarter. Allen finished with a team-high 20 points and has 2,562 career 3-pointers.

Los Angeles led by three points with less than five minutes to play before Bryant scored six straight points to give the Lakers an 88-79 lead with 3:11 remaining. Boston was unable to recover.

Pau Gasol had 20 points and 10 rebounds as the Lakers won the battle on the boards 47-36 and avenged the Celtics' 109-96 victory at Los Angeles on Jan. 30.

Paul Pierce added 15 points for the Celtics (38-14), who fell into a tie with Miami for the best record in the Eastern Conference.

Boston led 49-34 after Kevin Garnett’s basket with 3:31 left in the second quarter, but Los Angeles responded with a 21-4 run and moved ahead at 55-53 on Gasol’s basket less than two minutes into the second half.

Allen’s record-breaking 3-pointer gave the Celtics an early 22-14 lead. During the next stoppage in play, Allen went over and exchanged a congratulatory hug with Miller, who was one of the TNT analysts working the broadcast.

Miller has 2,560 3-pointers, followed by Dallas' Jason Kidd with 1,754.

• Boston will play their next game at home against Miami. The Celtics have a W/L % of .744 after a win and .692 after a loss.
• L.A. Lakers will play their next game on the road against New York . The Lakers have a W/L % of .750 after a win and .588 after a loss.