Los Angeles, CA (Best E Casino) - Kobe Bryant poured in 36 points -- 10 in the fourth quarter -- as the Los Angeles Lakers continued their home court dominance with an 87-81 win over the Boston Celtics in Game 3 of the NBA Finals.

The Lakers moved to a perfect 9-0 at home in the postseason, and avoided falling into an 0-3 series hole in the process. Game 4 is scheduled for Thursday evening in LA.

Ray Allen scored 25 points to lead the Celtics, hitting 5-of-7 three-pointers, but Boston failed to take a stranglehold on the series. Kevin Garnett struggled to 13 points and 12 rebounds, shooting 6-of-21 from the floor, and Paul Pierce had an awful night, with only six points on 2-of-14 shooting for the Celtics, who fell to 2-8 on the road in the postseason.

Sasha Vujacic provided a spark off the bench for the Lakers, scoring 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting. Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom continued their Finals struggles, however, scoring four and nine points, respectively, for the Lakers, who beat the Celtics for the first time in five tries, counting the regular season.

The Celtics lost point guard Rajon Rondo for most of the third quarter and part of the fourth with a left ankle injury. Rondo did return in the fourth, and finished eight points and four assists.

Vujacic nailed a three to open the third quarter, putting the Lakers in front 63-62, and LA pushed ahead by seven points later in the quarter. A Bryant three started an 11-2 Lakers push, capped by two Gasol baskets, giving LA a 77-70 lead.

The Celtics cut the deficit to 78-76 on a Garnett bank shot with 2:41 left, but Vujacic answered with a three from the corner, pushing the Lakers up 81-76. After Pierce and Garnett both missed shots at the other end, Derek Fisher drew a foul and sank both free throws, pushing the LA lead back to seven points, at 83-76 with 1:33 left.

Bryant twice answered Boston baskets with jumpers, down the stretch. An Eddie House three made it an 85-81 game with just under a minute left, but Bryant drained a leaner over Allen to give the Lakers a six-point lead with 38 seconds left.

The Celtics couldn't get an open look, and an illegal screen by Garnett with 21.1 seconds left turned the ball over. The Celtics curiously opted not to foul, and after an Odom offensive foul and a missed three by Pierce the Lakers picked up yet another playoff win at home.

The Lakers came out playing like a team with something to prove after two disappointing performances. Vladimir Radmanovic canned an early three-pointer, and Bryant scored five points on a 9-2 Lakers run to start the game.

The Lakers led by as many as 11 points in the second quarter, but Allen and the Celtics were able to trim to within 43-37 by the half.

The Celtics lost Rondo to an ankle injury in the first minute of the third quarter, as he rolled his ankle leading a fast break. Rondo was helped off the court by teammates and limped into the locker room with 11:16 left in the third. He didn't return until there was 7:59 left in the fourth.

Despite playing without their starting point guard and without any offense from Pierce, the Celtics moved in front with a 15-3 run, turning an eight- point deficit into a four-point lead. House contributed a three, and Allen canned a trey of his own, capping the run and pushing the Celtics ahead 54-50 with 4:45 left.

Boston took a 62-60 edge into the fourth quarter.

Game Notes

Boston is 7-0 all-time when it wins the first two games in the NBA Finals, while the Lakers are 0-5 when they lose Games 1 and 2. The only three teams to come back from an 0-2 deficit and win the NBA Finals are the 1969 Celtics, the 1977 Trail Blazers and the 2006 Heat...With a win in Game 4 the Lakers will tie the NBA playoff record for most consecutive home victories in a single postseason, held by six teams...The Lakers had lost five straight finals games and six of seven, dating back to the 2004 Finals against the Detroit Pistons.