Boston, MA (Best E Casino) - Carried off the court with a sprained right knee in the third quarter, Paul Pierce became the inspirational leader down the stretch as the Celtics beat the Los Angeles Lakers, 98-88, in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

Pierce left the game with under seven minutes remaining in the third after colliding with teammate Kendrick Perkins, but incredibly returned and had 19 of his 22 points in the final two quarters. That included back-to-back three- pointers that gave Boston the lead for good late in the third, on the way to the Celtics drawing first blood in the latest meeting of the storied rivals.

"I thought him coming back lifted us up," Boston coach Doc Rivers said. "I thought the stretch when he went out, we didn't show any panic. That was really good for our team."

After the game, Pierce said he was diagnosed with a strained meniscus, and it's not known if he'll be able to play in Game 2 Sunday at TD Banknorth Garden.

Kevin Garnett totaled 24 points and 13 rebounds, while Ray Allen added 19 points and eight rebounds in the win. In the first Finals game for Boston's big three of Garnett, Pierce and Allen, the trio combined to shoot 21-of-45, carrying the offensive load in the team's first NBA Finals game since 1987 when the Celtics lost to the Lakers.

Rajon Rondo had 15 points and seven assists. Perkins, who left with 6:19 remaining in the third, didn't return due to an ankle injury.

Kobe Bryant, going after his fourth championship ring, had 24 points to pace the Lakers, who are in the their first NBA Finals since falling to Detroit in 2004.

Derek Fisher and Pau Gasol both had 15 points for Los Angeles, which shot 5- of-20 from the field in the final quarter. Lamar Odom scored 14 in defeat.

"We played well enough to almost steal the game," Bryant said. "The balls bounced their way tonight. They scrapped and they clawed their way to this victory. They played a lot more physical than we did. I think that's something we have to adjust to and get ready for Game 2."

The Celtics, who are chasing a record 17th NBA championship, limited Bryant to 9-of-26 shooting from the field and outrebounded the Lakers, 46-33.

"I thought we just didn't get after the ball offensively on the boards," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "The opportunities that were there for us. They did a much better job on the boards. That's the difference in the ball game."

Bryant drove to his right and then hit a fall-away jumper with just under seven minutes left in the third when Pierce's injury occurred.

"Perkins came down on my foot and I think at the same time I turned my leg when he was on it," Pierce said. "I think that's how I twisted the knee."

Pierce was on his back under the basket holding his leg and was then carried off the court, put in a wheelchair and taken to the locker room.

"I thought that was it," Pierce said. "There were a lot of things going through my mind. I thought I tore something."

Pierce said he didn't test his knee until he got to the back of the locker room. Less than two minutes later on the game clock, the capacity crowd at TD Banknorth Garden erupted as the six-time All-Star walked out of the tunnel.

"Usually when I go down I'm getting right back up," Pierce said. "It was an instance where I turned my knee, it popped, I heard the pop. I was just in pain where I couldn't move."

It was a scene reminiscent of the 1970 NBA Finals when Knicks inspirational leader Willis Reed, unable to play in the sixth game against the Lakers because of a knee injury, hobbled onto the court for Game 7 to a thunderous ovation at Madison Square Garden. He sank the first basket and the Knicks rode that emotion to the championship.

"I wasn't trying to imitate him," Pierce said. "I got hurt, came to the back and tested it out. I'm just glad I was able to get back out there."

The Lakers were ahead 62-58 when Pierce left, but trailed 63-62 when he checked back into the game.

Bryant's turnaround shot gave LA a 71-69 lead with 2:28 left in the third, but Pierce came back with consecutive three-pointers from nearly the same spot on the floor from the right wing to move Boston ahead.

"He rejuvenated us, I think to the point where he gave everybody life," Garnett said of Pierce.

It was 77-73 going into the fourth. Ronny Turiaf's free throw had LA within 81-78, but Sam Cassell hit a jumper and James Posey drilled a three-pointer to widen Boston's advantage.

The exclamation point came later from Garnett. Posey missed a three from the left corner, but Garnett soared in for a putback jam over Gasol, sending the home crowd roaring with Boston opening a 94-86 lead with 1:32 left.

The chants of "Beat LA! Beat LA!" rang throughout the arena even before the starting lineups were announced. The Lakers and Celtics have met 10 times in the NBA Finals, with Boston winning eight of those matchups. Incredibly, the two teams have combined for 30 of a possible 61 titles in league history.

Jackson, who is tied with Boston legendary coach Red Auerbach at nine for most titles as a head coach, saw his Lakers get ahead early as Odom's jumper moved the lead to 6-2.

The Celtics used a 13-4 run later in the quarter for a 21-14 lead. Allen drilled a three-pointer from the left side and Rondo's two free throws capped the flurry.

LA responded with the next seven points, tying the game on Bryant's jumper, but P.J. Brown's bucket in the final minute moved Boston to a 23-21 lead after one quarter.

Boston led 40-35 following a Garnett jumper midway through the second, but the Lakers came back with an ensuing 10-2 spurt. Odom's driving layup capped the rally.

Fisher's jumper from the left side with 47.4 seconds left in the half provided the 51-46 lead for LA at the break.

However, Boston scored six in a row to start the third, including a rare four- point play from Pierce. He banked in a shot from the right side as he was fouled by Vladimir Radmanovic, giving the Celtics a 52-51 edge.

Game Notes

The Lakers were 3-of-14 from three-point range...Boston is trying for its first championship since 1986...Perkins had one point and four rebounds in 23 minutes...LA had just eight turnovers...Boston is 11-1 at home this postseason.