Celtics 3 Lakers 2

The Lakers are still alive.

Facing elimination, they managed to dig deep and prevent Boston from celebrating on their own turf, forcing Game 6 and bringing the game back to Boston.

Kobe Bryant lead the home team with 25 points, and he had plenty of help from his teammates. Four other Lakers were in double figures, with Lamar Odom coming alive with 20 points from 8-for-10 shooting while Pau Gasol had 19 points and 13 rebounds.

No team has overcome a 3-1 deficit in the finals to win a title. The first 28 failed, and now the Lakers, who blew a 24-point lead and lost Game 4 and nearly squandered a 19-point lead in Game 5, have a chance to do something extraordinary.

Paul Pierce had a massive game, with 38 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists. He kept the game close for his team, with a pair of free throws to cut the Lakers lead by two with less than two minutes to go. But with less than a minute left on the clock, Bryant poke the ball out of Pierce's hand and finished the play with a dunk to put the Lakers up by four.

With the score now at 100-95, Bryant missed one of two free throws with 16 seconds left, and Eddie House nailed a three-pointer to make it 101-98 with 14 seconds left. Fisher then made two free throws and stole Boston’s last pass to ensure that there will be another game in the series.

Game 6 will be in Boston on Wednesday.