Lakers let one get away

With the series seemingly slipping away from the Boston Celtics, stars Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo sat on the bench. Who could have predicted the three would fill a valuable role as cheerleaders?

The Los Angeles Lakers, after being upstaged by two green reserves, are back where they started in the NBA Finals.

Glen “Big Baby” Davis and Nate Robinson lifted the desperate Celtics to a 96-89 victory Thursday night that tied the best-of-7 series at two.

Wipe the betting boards clean. The series price has been adjusted, with the Lakers minus-190 favorites to win the championship. It’s still up for grabs, the Lakers holding a slight edge, and that’s right where we were eight days ago.

“It’s a good series,” M Resort sports book director Mike Colbert said. “I still expect the Lakers to win in seven.”

That was also my prediction eight days ago, and I’m sticking to it. The Lakers are the better team, and Kobe Bryant is by far the best player in the series, but L.A. let one get away in Game 4.

The zigzag theory — criticized and maligned in recent weeks — dictated a bet on Boston as a 4-point home favorite Thursday, and that’s how the public played it.

“It was all Boston,” Colbert said of the wagering action. “Everyone looked at it like it’s a must-win situation for the Celtics. Obviously, the next game is pivotal. Again, I think it’s a must-win for Boston.”

The Celtics opened as 2½-point favorites in Sunday’s Game 5. The teams have rotated wins to this point.

Three of the four games have gone under the total. After a 35-point first quarter in Game 4, it appeared the total of 190½ would not be threatened. But the Celtics, sparked by Davis and Robinson, erupted for a 36-point fourth quarter.

It was just what Boston coach Doc Rivers ordered. Rivers calls all the right shots, and his gamble to leave his stars on the bench for most of the fourth quarter paid off in a big way.

Still, the Lakers had their shot to all but seal the series. Bryant hit a beautiful step-back 3-pointer from the corner with 1:51 left in the third, and he nailed another 3 about 30 seconds later to stretch the Lakers’ lead to 62-58.

Bryant finished with 33 points (over his proposition total of 28½) and Pau Gasol had 21, but the Lakers’ reserves came up empty. Davis’ 18 points for the Celtics matched the Lakers’ bench production.

Maybe the biggest play of the game unfolded with 1:17 remaining. Pierce drove into Bryant, who was planted outside the restricted area in the lane, and made a layup. Whistles blew and Bryant was called for a blocking foul. Pierce converted the three-point play for a 90-81 lead.

“It looked like a charge,” Colbert said. “I think the NBA wanted a long series, and that’s what they’re getting. But the Celtics deserved to win.”

The officiating, as usual, was a Three Stooges routine. But it was bad both ways. The Celtics were getting the worst of the whistles early in the game, and they indeed earned the win.

So we’ll save the conspiracy theories for another day.

It was a tough beat for those who took the Lakers plus-4. Bryant threw away a pass — one of his seven turnovers — that Rondo turned into a breakaway layup in the final minute. And Bryant and Sasha Vujacic each missed a 3-pointer in the last seconds to potentially push the point spread.

The Celtics survived despite Garnett missing wide-open jumpers and Pierce barely seeing the ball in the second half.

“It’s amazing to me the public perception is for Boston,” Colbert said. “I just think the Celtics are a step slow at every spot. I’ve liked the Lakers all the way through.”

■ BOTTOM LINES — The football betting season starts today, and I’m not just referring to the World Cup soccer opener between Mexico and South Africa.

Golden Nugget sports book director Tony Miller will post lines on 200 college football games at 11 a.m. today. Brian Blessing of Las Vegas Sports Consultants will host his ESPN Radio (1100 AM) show from the Nugget at 2 p.m.

The sharp bettors will be taking shots at what they perceive to be soft numbers, and Miller deserves props for gambling and getting the numbers up first.

Contact sports betting columnist Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907.