Zeller leads Celtics to 113-96 win over Lakers - Boston News, Weather, Sports | FOX 25 | MyFoxBoston

BOSTON (AP) - Tyler Zeller had season highs of 24 points and 14 rebounds and the Boston Celtics went ahead for good less than two minutes into the game for a 113-96 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.

The Lakers had cut a 92-78 deficit to 92-83 with 7:49 remaining on a three-point play by Nick Young. Then a basket by Avery Bradley began a 13-point Celtics run that put them ahead 105-83 with 3:54 left. They led by at least 17 the rest of the way.

Kobe Bryant scored 22 points but made only 9 of 21 shots as the Lakers lost their second straight game after winning two in a row.

Boston won its second straight after losing their previous five as Jeff Green scored 19 points and Jared Sullinger had 17 points and 13 rebounds.

Jordan Hill gave Los Angeles a 3-0 lead with a three-point play. But a jumper by Bradley followed by a layup by Green with 10:45 to go gave Boston a lead it never lost

The rivalry between the now-struggling teams reached its height in the mid-80s when the teams led by Magic Johnson of Los Angeles and Larry Bird of Boston met for the NBA title three times with the Lakers winning twice. In their most recent championship series, the Lakers won in seven games in 2009-10.

So Friday's game was special to Celtics coach Brad Stevens.

"It is unique to think (that) you're driving downtown to play the Lakers," he said. "It's a unique, unique rivalry and it's neat to be a part of."

Leading 53-48 at halftime, the Celtics began the third quarter with a 10-3 run with Green scoring eight. That made it 63-51, but the Lakers cut the lead to 67-60 before the Celtics went on another spurt. This time they scored nine straight points, seven by Sullinger, and led 76-60 with 4:16 left in the third quarter.

Boston stayed ahead by 16, entering the fourth period with an 86-70 lead.

The Celtics used a 10-0 run to take a 25-9 lead on a layup by Rajon Rondo with 4:18 left in the first quarter. The Lakers cut that to 30-20 entering the second.