Live action updates from Game 5 of the NBA finals between longtime rivals Celtics, Lakers

Live updates from Game 5 of the NBA finals

Celtics closing in, up by five points with 8.9 seconds left.

This is where Doc Rivers needs to take a cue from Pat Riley.

In 2006, Riley famously packed lightly for the trip to Dallas and Game 6 of the NBA finals. One suit. One shirt. One tie.

Nothing for Game 7.

Riley just KNEW the Heat would beat Dallas in Game 6 to clinch the title. Doc needs to try it. That’d motivate his guys, who live for this kind of stuff.

Are the Lakers still favored to win these finals?

Yes, they are at home for Game 6 and possibly Game 7.

But the Celtics have swagger now, and barring an all-out collapse, will soon have a 3-2 lead in this series. And with the exception of Kobe Bryant, the Lakers got nothing offensively from anyone other than Pau Gasol in Game 4, then nothing from anyone besides KB24 in Game 5.

The Lakers need to find themselves again, quickly.

Derek Fisher just took a jump ball away from Kevin Garnett, setting up a transition opportunity for the Lakers.

Ron Artest went to the line, and missed them both. Celtics still lead 87-82, 38.9 seconds left, and they have the ball — because Garnett made sure Kobe Bryant didn’t outwrestle him for the rebound.

What a blunder by Ray Allen, who turns into some sort of alien life form around the 3-point line.

He can’t make a 3. Hasn’t since Game 2 in Los Angeles, 17 straight misses from beyond the arc. Shocking to say the least.

And he just fouled Kobe Bryant as he was shooting a 3.

Bryant hit them all and it’s 87-82 with 1:30 left.

Not over yet, not by a long shot.

That was a perfect 45 seconds for Boston, with no points.

Celtics missed two shots, getting an offensive rebound to extend the possession.

Fouled Ron Artest on another rebound joust, and sent him to the line at the other end.

But it’s perfect for these reasons: The Celtics killed a lot of the clock, and by fouling Artest on the rebound, Kobe Bryant never touched the ball.

Celtics lead 87-79, 1:41 left.

Just like that, Boston seizes control again.

Lakers got just one shot in a span of five possessions, and Boston has peeled off a quick six points, the last pair coming on a spectacular tip-in by Rajon Rondo.

Celtics closing in on a 3-2 series lead, up 87-75 here with 3:24 left in Game 5. And Kobe Bryant just got his fifth foul.

Lakers getting some stops now, and it’s a game again.

Boston leads 81-75, 6 minutes left in Game 5.

Celtics are getting away from what’s worked, Ray Allen is getting too feisty with Derek Fisher and Boston seems to think they’re playing against five Lakers and three refs at the same time.

In other words, Boston’s losing its composure.

Which is exactly what the Lakers wanted. And needed.

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Here’s the difference in styles, explained in one snapshot.

There’s about 9 minutes left. Kobe Bryant is trying to keep his guys calm, down by nine. At the very same moment, Nate Robinson is raising his arms high, inciting the crowd and his Celtics teammates.

Celtics still lead by nine.

Three quarters in the books.

Celtics lead 73-65.

Kobe Bryant just got his well-deserved rest, and the Lakers got a boost from Pau Gasol’s putback with 1.4 seconds left. If the defending champs make a run in the fourth, this will get interesting in a hurry.

If the Celts keep making 2 of every 3 shots (their current pace), there’s no way the Lakers can catch ‘em.

Prediction: The most intense 12 minutes of these finals awaits.

A full quarter. And counting.

That’s how long we’ve gone without someone other than Kobe Bryant scoring for the Lakers.

Ron Artest hit a 3-pointer with 4:23 left in the half for the Lakers. It’s been all Kobe since, scoring 23 straight points for the defending NBA champions in the last 14 minutes, while his teammates have combined to shoot 0 for 6.

Bryant has 29. He needs a whole lot more, and time’s starting to wind down.

Celtics 71-58, 3:08 left in the third.

Here comes Kobe.

He’s got 17 points so far in the third quarter (with 5 minutes left) and is the Lakers’ only scoring option.

“Don’t overreact to Kobe Bryant,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers just shouted in a huddle.

Is he serious?

ABC’s cameras just caught Dwyane Wade courtside, shaking his head. He knows. When Kobe’s like this, there’s nothing the Celtics can do besides keep scoring on the other end. Which they’re doing, by the way, so Kobe can score all he wants — Boston is maintaining its lead.

Record for points in a quarter of a finals game, by the way? That’d be 25, by Isiah Thomas in 1988.

Celtics 67-56, 5:00 left third.

In case anyone was wondering when Kobe Bryant would start taking over for the Lakers, you have your answer: Right about now.

KB24 is going to have to be really good for the Lakers to seize control of this one. He’s been scintillating in the third quarter, making everything he tries, carrying the LA load.

Problem is, the Celtics are balanced.

Ray Allen got a layup and moments later Kevin Garnett had one too, both set up by Rajon Rondo, who saw his teammates were being fronted with the Lakers having no opportunity for help from the weak side. And Kendrick Perkins is even scoring, which is simply a bonus for the Celtics right now.

So how good can Kobe be? The Lakers’ hopes ride on the answer.

Celtics get the lead to 11 points within the first minute of the third quarter, Paul Pierce’s 3-pointer from the left corner staking Boston to a 50-39 lead.

Andrew Bynum starts the second half for the Lakers. He wasn’t coming out, not with this much at stake. But he couldn’t elevate at all to contest that 3-pointer by Pierce.

What happened on that last Boston possession of the half?

Paul Pierce turned his back on Rajon Rondo with about 8 seconds left until intermission, for reasons that seemed to suggest some distention within the Celtics’ ranks. (For his part, Pierce denied any frustration with Rondo, who seemed to look him off during one late possession, during his halftime interview with ABC’s Doris Burke.)

Rondo had to take the last shot, missed it, and the Celtics lead 45-39 at halftime.

Outstanding shooting for the Celtics (66 percent to L.A’s 36 percent), outstanding defense by the C’s as well (four guys took turns on Kobe Bryant during one possession in the final minute).

And yet, they’re only up six.

Lakers can’t be too upset right now. Bad half, and they’re very much in this thing.

Back in the third quarter.

Now we’ve got finals-level intensity.

Crowd rolling, Pau Gasol appearing to tip a ball in for the Celtics (Kendrick Perkins was credited with the Boston score), Paul Pierce taking over the Boston offense single-handedly, Kobe Bryant rebounding his own miss for a tough score.

If both teams sustain this, the second half will be epic.

Celtics 43-39, 1:37 left until the break.

Fireworks!

Kevin Garnett gets leveled by Ron Artest — a good, hard foul in transition. And then Artest goes tumbling after Rajon Rondo appears to brush a fly off his jersey.

Artest should win a Tony award. (Tonight is Broadway’s biggest night, by the way.)

Of course, it isn’t wise for Rondo to taunt Artest, either.

Lakers close the gap.

Ron Artest hits a 3-pointer and Boston’s lead — eight points a few moments ago — is down to 32-31 midway through the second quarter.

Kobe Bryant showed a sign of life, getting a tough shot in the lane to fall. He’s 2 for 6 from the field so far.

Boston hasn’t gotten to the foul line yet, has tried to make the impossible pass into well-covered players in the post a couple of times in the last three minutes, and is relying a lot on jumpers. Ray Allen isn’t even looking to shoot, it seems. Celtics will likely switch up their plan shortly.

Here we go with Boston’s second unit again.

Rasheed Wallace blocking shots. Nate Robinson making jumpers and running 10 rows up the stands to chase loose balls. Glen Davis setting monster-sized screens. Tony Allen knocking down shots.

The subs were the key to Boston’s Game 4 win, and they’re why the Celtics are up 30-22 so far in Game 5.

Math 101, NBA finals style.

First 10 minutes of the game in the books. Celtics shooting 67 percent. Lakers shooting 33 percent.

Celtics lead by only two.

Lakers have a 5-0 lead in free throws made, which helps. But you know that disparity is going to close, by a lot, and quickly — which bodes well for L.A.

Celtics probably not feeling exceptionally great about this start.

What was Kendrick Perkins thinking?

Gets a defensive rebound, leads the break, takes it over the opposite foul line … and runs over Kobe Bryant for his second foul with 3:16 left in the opening quarter.

Perkins isn’t out there for offense.

Glen Davis checks in for Boston, still likely basking in his Game 4 heroics. The Lakers will play him differently tonight, for certain.

Another big start for Kevin Garnett.

Awful in Game 1, and he’s been lights out ever since, hitting his first three shots of Game 5. Not easy ones, either, including a try where he split a double-team and changed hands for a layup.

Andrew Bynum seems to be OK, though clearly laboring.

Ray Allen, non-factor so far.

Kobe Bryant, waiting for his time before he starts attacking.

Celtics 14-12, 4:58 left 1st.

Andrew Bynum starts for the Lakers and wins the tap.

Forces a terrible shot on the first possession. But that’s almost irrelevant. Lakers want to see how agile their center can be, given his ongoing trouble with the torn meniscus in his knee. He had fluid drained again after Game 4, when he was big-time limited.

I’m no doctor, but he’s not running well.

An ominous sign for L.A. to start tonight.

Last home game of the season for Boston tonight, when the NBA finals resume with Game 5 in a few moments.

Will the Celtics be inspired?

Will Ray Allen make another 3-pointer sometime before this season ends? (He’s missed his last 14.)

Or will Kobe Bryant decide enough is enough, turn in one of his vintage postseason showings and lead the Lakers back to Los Angeles with a 3-2 series lead and a stranglehold on the trophy?

Tip off, moments away.