View source for 2008 NBA Finals

{{Short description|2008 basketball championship series}}
{{More citations needed|date=May 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{NBA Finals summary
| image = 2008 NBA Finals.png
| caption =
| league = NBA
| year = 2008
| runnerup = [[2007–08 Los Angeles Lakers season|Los Angeles Lakers]]
| runnerup_coach = [[Phil Jackson]]
| runnerup_games = 2
| champion = [[2007–08 Boston Celtics season|Boston Celtics]]
| champion_coach = [[Doc Rivers]]
| champion_games = 4
| date = June 5–17
| MVP = [[Paul Pierce]]<br />(Boston Celtics)
| HOFers = '''Celtics:'''<br />[[Ray Allen]] (2018)<br />[[Kevin Garnett]] (2020)<br />Paul Pierce (2021)<br />'''Lakers:'''<br />[[Kobe Bryant]] (2020)<br />[[Pau Gasol]] (2023)<br />'''Coaches:'''<br />Phil Jackson (2007)<br />'''Officials:'''<br />[[Dick Bavetta]] (2015)<br/>[[Danny Crawford]] (2025)
| ECF result = [[2007–08 Boston Celtics season|Celtics]] defeated [[Detroit Pistons|Pistons]], 4–2
| WCF result = [[2007–08 Los Angeles Lakers season|Lakers]] defeated [[San Antonio Spurs|Spurs]], 4–1
}}
The '''2008 NBA Finals''' was the [[NBA Finals|championship series]] of the [[National Basketball Association]]'s (NBA) [[2007–08 NBA season|2007–08 season]] and conclusion of [[2008 NBA playoffs|the season's playoffs]]. A [[best-of-seven playoff]] series that was played from June 5–17, 2008, the series was contested between the [[Eastern Conference (NBA)|Eastern Conference]] champion [[2007–08 Boston Celtics season|Boston Celtics]] and the [[Western Conference (NBA)|Western Conference]] champion [[2007–08 Los Angeles Lakers season|Los Angeles Lakers]]. It was the eleventh Finals meeting in the history of the [[Celtics–Lakers rivalry]].

Led by the "Big 3" of [[Paul Pierce]], [[Kevin Garnett]], and [[Ray Allen]], and holding home court advantage, the Celtics defeated the Lakers in six games. It was their first title in twenty-two years and their 17th title overall. Pierce was named the [[NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award|Finals MVP]].

The Celtics would not win another championship until [[2024 NBA Finals|2024]].

==Background==
The Celtics made their first NBA Finals appearance since a six-game loss to the Lakers in [[1987 NBA Finals|1987]]. Over the next 20 years the Celtics endured lean years, not making the playoffs in nine of those years. Following the dissolution of the team's original "Big Three" through the retirements of [[Larry Bird]] and [[Kevin McHale (basketball)|Kevin McHale]] and the departure of [[Robert Parish]], the Celtics suffered through several tragedies such as the passing of [[Reggie Lewis]] in 1993; a franchise-worst 15-win [[1996–97 NBA season|1996–97 season]]; the ill-fated hiring of head coach [[Rick Pitino]]; and the deaths of franchise patriarch [[Red Auerbach]] and former player [[Dennis Johnson]], which culminated in a 24-win [[2006–07 NBA season|2006–07 season]], highlighted by a franchise-worst 18 straight losses.

Nevertheless, the 2007 off-season saw Celtics general manager [[Danny Ainge]] acquire [[Ray Allen]] and [[Kevin Garnett]] to join franchise star [[Paul Pierce]]. This new formation became regarded as the most talented Boston Celtics team since the duo of [[Antoine Walker]] and [[Paul Pierce]] graced the floor of the "Garden" in the early 2000s. The newly formed 'Big Three,' joined by second year point guard and future all star [[Rajon Rondo]], led the Celtics to a dramatic 42-game turnaround, finishing with 66 wins.

In the playoffs, the Celtics were pushed to the brink by the [[Atlanta Hawks]] and [[Cleveland Cavaliers]], and despite not winning on the road, managed to prevail in a pair of Game 7s on their [[TD Garden|home court]]. The Celtics would finally break their road woes in a six-game win against the perennial Eastern Conference powerhouse [[Detroit Pistons]], earning their first finals berth since 1987.

After losing to the Pistons in the [[2004 NBA Finals]], despite a talent-laden roster, [[Phil Jackson]] abruptly retired. Soon after, the Lakers decided to rebuild by trading away [[Shaquille O'Neal]] to the [[Miami Heat]] for [[Lamar Odom]], [[Caron Butler]] and [[Brian Grant]]. The [[2004–05 NBA season|2004–05 season]] saw the Lakers miss the playoffs for only the fifth time in team history. Even though he had written a book called ''[[The Last Season: A Team in Search of Its Soul|The Last Season]]'', going as far as calling [[Kobe Bryant]] "uncoachable," Jackson returned to the Lakers for the [[2005–06 NBA season|2005–06 season]]. Jackson and Bryant would patch up their differences, but after a pair of first-round exits, Bryant demanded, but later retracted, a trade in the off-season.

The Lakers' 2007–08 season saw the team win 57 games, along the way adding [[Spain|Spanish]] forward [[Pau Gasol]] in mid-season while [[Andrew Bynum]] was recovering from a mid-season knee injury. The Lakers eliminated the [[Denver Nuggets]] 4–0, then the [[Utah Jazz]] 4–2 and then dethroned the erstwhile defending champion [[San Antonio Spurs]] 4–1 in the conference finals, making their 29th NBA Finals appearance.

===2008 NBA playoffs===
{{main|2008 NBA playoffs}}
{| style="width:100%;" class="wikitable"
|- valign=top
! colspan="2" style="width:45%;"|[[Los Angeles Lakers]] ([[Western Conference (NBA)|Western Conference]] champion) !! !! colspan="2" style="width:45%;"|[[Boston Celtics]] ([[Eastern Conference (NBA)|Eastern Conference]] champion)
|-
|align=right|{{2007–08 NBA West standings|team=LAL}}1st seed in the West, 3rd best league record
!colspan=2|[[2007–08 NBA season|Regular season]]
|{{2007–08 NBA East standings|team=BOS}}1st seed in the East, best league record
|-
|align=right|Defeated the (8) [[Denver Nuggets]], 4–0
!colspan=2|First round
|Defeated the (8) [[Atlanta Hawks]], 4–3
|-
|align=right|Defeated the (4) [[Utah Jazz]], 4–2
!colspan=2|Conference semifinals
|Defeated the (4) [[Cleveland Cavaliers]], 4–3
|-
|align=right|Defeated the (3) [[San Antonio Spurs]], 4–1
!colspan=2|Conference finals
|Defeated the (2) [[Detroit Pistons]], 4–2
|}

===Regular season series===
The [[Boston Celtics]] won both games in the regular season series:
{{basketballbox
 | bg=#fff
 | date = November 23, 2007
| report = {{NBA Recap|2007|1123|id=LALBOS}}
 | team1 = [[Los Angeles Lakers]] |score1=94
 | team2 = '''[[Boston Celtics]] |score2=107'''
 | place = [[TD Garden|TD Banknorth Garden]], [[Boston, Massachusetts|Boston]]
 | TV = [[KCAL-TV|KCAL]], [[CSN New England|CSN]]
 }}
{{basketballbox
 | date = December 30, 2007
| report = {{NBA Recap|2007|1230|id=BOSLAL}}
 | team1 = '''[[Boston Celtics]] |score1=110'''
 | team2 = [[Los Angeles Lakers]] |score2=91
 | place = [[Staples Center]], [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]]
 | TV = [[NBA TV]]
}}

==Series summary==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Game !! Date !! Road team !! Result !! Home team
|-
| Game 1 || June 5 || Los Angeles Lakers || 88–98 (1–0) || '''Boston Celtics'''
|-
| Game 2 || June 8 || Los Angeles Lakers || 102–108 (2–0) || '''Boston Celtics'''
|-
| Game 3 || June 10 || Boston Celtics || 81–87 (2–1) || '''Los Angeles Lakers'''
|-
| Game 4 || June 12 || '''Boston Celtics''' || 97–91 (3–1) || Los Angeles Lakers
|-
| Game 5 || June 15 || Boston Celtics || 98–103 (3–2) || '''Los Angeles Lakers'''
|-
| Game 6 || June 17 || Los Angeles Lakers || 92–131 (2–4) || '''Boston Celtics'''
|}
'''Note:''' team in '''Bold''' won the game

==Game summaries==
{{Tone|section|date=June 2024}}
{{see also|Celtics–Lakers rivalry#2008 NBA Finals}}
:''All times listed below are [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern Daylight Time]] ([[UTC-4]]).<ref name=schedule>{{cite news |title=2008 NBA Finals Schedule |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/playoffs2008/news/story?id=3418220 |publisher=[[ESPN]] |access-date=May 31, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080602012624/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2008/news/story?id=3418220| archive-date= June 2, 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> If the venue is located in a different time zone, the local time is also given.''

===Game 1===
{{basketballbox
 | bg = #eee
 | date = June 5
 | time = 9:00 pm
 | report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080605/LALBOS/recap.html Recap]<br />{{YouTube|_oQfMYu3fAk|Video highlights}}
 | team1 = [[Los Angeles Lakers]]
 | score1 = 88
 | score2 = '''98'''
 | team2 = '''[[Boston Celtics]]'''
 | Q1 = 21–'''23''' | Q2 = '''30'''–23 | Q3 = 22–'''31''' | Q4 = 15–'''21'''
 | points1 = [[Kobe Bryant]] 24
 | points2 = [[Kevin Garnett]] 24
 | rebounds1 = [[Pau Gasol]] 8
 | rebounds2 = [[Kevin Garnett]] 13
 | assist1 = [[Kobe Bryant|Bryant]], [[Derek Fisher|Fisher]] 6 each
 | assist2 = [[Rajon Rondo]] 7
 | otherstat1 = '''FT:''' [[Kobe Bryant]] 6/6 | otherstat2 = '''Stls:''' [[James Posey]] 2
 | place = [[TD Garden|TD Banknorth Garden]], [[Boston, Massachusetts]]
 | attendance = 18,624
 | referee =<br />
* No. 27 [[Dick Bavetta]]
* No. 48 [[Scott Foster (basketball)|Scott Foster]]
* No. 32 [[Eddie F. Rush]]
 | series = Boston leads series, 1–0
 | TV = [[NBA on ABC|ABC]], [[The Sports Network|TSN]], [[Cuatro (channel)|Cuatro]], [[Canal+ (French TV channel)|Canal+]], [[Canal 7 Argentina|Canal 7]]
}}
[[File:2008 NBA Finals Game 1 running score.png|thumb|250px|Game 1 running score.]]
Going into the game, LA have found themselves on the road in game 1 for the first time that playoffs. On the other hand, Boston, who were the league's best team, had home court advantage for the series. The game started very tight, with teams trading buckets and turnovers. For Boston, the go-to guy was [[Kevin Garnett]], who had racked up 10 first-quarter points. For the Lakers, Kobe was struggling with his shot, as he went 1/7 for the quarter, but was dishing out assists and playing defense very solid, as he looked to get others involved early. Paul Pierce was also struggling, and has gotten himself into foul trouble early, as he hed 3 points and 3 fouls going into the third quarter.

In the second quarter, Garnett had racked up 8 more points and had already matched his playoff points average at 18.8. Despite Garnett's monstrous efforts, the Celtics found themselves down 51–46 at halftime. The main reason for the Lakers lead was [[Pau Gasol]], who was hitting tough fadeaways and layups, and had also gotten P.J. Brown in foul trouble with his physicality and footwork. On the other hand, Kobe Bryant was a non-factor offensively but was making up for it with the same kind of defense that earned him the [[NBA All-Defensive Team|1st team All-defense]]. The Lakers ended the half on a 10–2 run.

In the beginning of the third quarter, Celtics forward [[Paul Pierce]] was injured after a collision with Celtics center and fellow teammate, [[Kendrick Perkins]]. He was taken out of the game with 8:42 left in the quarter. The following offensive possession, Perkins was hit in the leg by the sneaker of Pau Gasol. He soon also left the game. But despite the injuries of their star players, the Celtics went on a 6–0 run and have regained the lead. But then Paul Pierce miraculously came back in the game, reinvigorating the crowd, and carried the Boston Celtics in the third quarter. Following his return Paul Pierce would shoot 6-6 from the field and hit three straight three pointers. He also started cooking from 3-point range, scoring 3 straight threes. Not to ignore the fact that Kobe exploded in that third quarter, hitting and defending shots from anywhere inside the arc, before getting himself in foul trouble late in the third. Paul Pierce scored 15 points on 4-4 shooting from the field in the third quarter to give Boston the lead going into the fourth.

Then in the fourth, the Celtics never trailed. Kobe sitting out the first half of the quarter due to foul trouble allowed Boston to slowly increase the lead all the way up to 10. Garnett's putback dunk over 2 Lakers defenders sealed the Celtics victory, completing his 24 points alongside 13 rebounds performance. For the Lakers, [[Kobe Bryant]] had 24 points. The Boston Celtics ended up winning game 1 with a final score of 98–88.
	
Pierce apparently injured his knee by falling awkwardly on Kendrick Perkins' leg, and was taken off the court in a wheelchair. Despite what Pierce's reaction suggested was a highly debilitating injury, he returned to action minutes later to raucous cheering from the crowd. Pierce admitted during coverage of the [[2019 NBA Finals]] that he just had to use the bathroom.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/EzboU1g66ZE Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20201205221606/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzboU1g66ZE&ab_channel=ClutchPoints Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzboU1g66ZE| title = MYSTERIOUS Paul Pierce Injury: Poop, Wheelchair -- What Actually Happened? | website=[[YouTube]]| date = July 22, 2019 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> He soon hit two three-pointers on consecutive offensive possessions that gave Boston the lead for good and finished with 22 points. It was later dubbed by some as the "Wheelchair Game".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1623202-bizarre-moments-in-nba-playoff-history-paul-pierces-wheelchair-game|title=Bizarre Moments in NBA Playoff History: Paul Pierce's Wheelchair Game|first=Jesse|last=Dorsey|website=Bleacher Report}}</ref>

The Lakers, who had had home court advantage throughout the first three rounds and had not trailed a series in that same time, now had to do without both luxuries for the first time.

===Game 2===
{{basketballbox
 | bg = #eee
 | date = June 8
 | time = 9:00 pm
 | report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080608/LALBOS/recap.html Recap]<br />{{YouTube|3uAF_b7Rnq0|Video highlights}}
 | team1 = [[Los Angeles Lakers]]
 | score1 = 102
 | score2 = '''108'''
 | team2 = '''[[Boston Celtics]]'''
 | Q1 = '''22'''–20 | Q2 = 20–'''34''' | Q3 = 19–'''29''' | Q4 = '''41'''–25
 | points1 = [[Kobe Bryant]] 30
 | points2 = [[Paul Pierce]] 28
 | rebounds1 = [[Vladimir Radmanović|Radmanović]], [[Pau Gasol|Gasol]] 10 each
 | rebounds2 = [[Kevin Garnett]] 14
 | assist1 = [[Kobe Bryant]] 8
 | assist2 = [[Rajon Rondo]] 16
 | otherstat1 = '''Stls:''' [[Derek Fisher]] 3 | otherstat2 = '''3P-FG:''' [[Paul Pierce]] 4/4
 | place = [[TD Garden|TD Banknorth Garden]], [[Boston, Massachusetts]]
 | attendance = 18,624
 | referee = <br />
* No. 43 [[Dan Crawford (basketball referee)|Dan Crawford]]
* No. 26 [[Bob Delaney (basketball referee)|Bob Delaney]]
* No. 41 [[Ken Mauer]]
 | series = Boston leads series, 2–0
 | TV = [[NBA on ABC|ABC]], [[The Sports Network|TSN]], [[Cuatro (channel)|Cuatro]], [[Canal+ (French TV channel)|Canal+]], [[Canal 7 Argentina|Canal 7]]
}}
[[File:OpeningTipoffGame2-2008NBAFinals.jpg|thumb|left|The opening tipoff of Game 2]]
[[File:2008 NBA Finals – Game 2.jpg|thumb|right|[[Leon Powe]] (center) had a memorable performance in Game 2]]
From the tip-off, this game was bound to be legendary. One of the first plays of the game has shown us how much the Lakers needed the win here: Kobe ran down the floor after getting the rebound and passing it to Pau Gasol who was posting up Kevin Garnett. He made one drop step,  pushed of Garnett with his body, and then went up with it for the and-one poster. The Lakers, led by [[Kobe Bryant]] and [[Pau Gasol]],  jumped out to an early 15–8 first quarter lead, when the Celtics brought in sophomore Leon Powe, who was able to bring the Celtics back in the game, as his physical style of play took him to the free-throw line 10 times in his first 3 minutes of action. Despite Powe's heroics, the Lakers could still keep up with the Celtics and have won the first quarter with a score of 22–20.

In the second quarter, the Celtics decided to up the pace, and were able to rack up 10 unanswered points, as their defense has stopped LA's offense who haven't scored for the first 3 minutes of the quarter. The Celtics' defense also forced 9 turnovers by the Lakers (for reference, they had 8 turnovers in all of game 1) Paul Pierce decided to make up for his poor offensive efforts in the first half of game 1, as he scored 16 points in the first half. For the Lakers, Kobe got himself into foul trouble and the technical, which he got for taunting [[Ray Allen]] after making a tough lefty layup over him, didn't help. The Lakers team effort was the only thing keeping them alive in this game. The first half ended with the [[Boston Celtics]] holding a commanding 54–42 lead.

While the Lakers might have looked like something in the second quarter, that something fell apart in the third. The Celtics have held them scoreless until 7:52 remaining in the third as their lead began getting bigger and bigger. Everything has seemed to be falling for the Celtics, including back-to-back triples by Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. Just nobody was there for the Lakers as the Celtics have built up a comfortable 20 point lead to end the third. The exclamation point on the blowout was Leon Powe with back-to-back poster slams over the Lakers' defense.

The Celtics' dominance transferred into the beginning of the fourth, as they jumped to a 24-point lead with little bit more than 7 minutes to play. Vladimir Radmanović and Saša Vujačić started shooting the lights out of the Celtics defense which had fallen asleep in the fourth, and before you knew it, the lead was down to 12. Kobe's shots also started falling, as he scored 22 points in the second half alone. Phil Jackson then decided to go small and has left only Lamar Odom on the court of the big men, and has subbed in 4 of the best shooters that he had. That has showed out to be very effective, as the Lakers would go on a historic 31–9 run spanning 7:34 to the final 38.4 seconds. But all that effort was nothing for Paul Pierce, who seemed unfazed by the pressure, and who has scored 2 free throws with 20 seconds remaining, and then blocked Vujačić's three to potentially make it a one-point game. After the defensive play, James Posey hit two free throws to make it a 6-point game, and then the Celtics proved  to have the league's best defense by forcing another Lakers turnover. After a hard-fought battle, the Celtics walked away with a 6-point win and the 2–0 series lead as the series shifted to L.A.

[[Kobe Bryant]] finished the game with 30 points and 8 assists. For the Celtics, Paul Pierce scored 28 points, Rajon Rondo had a game-high 16 assists and [[Leon Powe]] scored 21 points on 6–7 shooting from the field and 9–13 from the line in 15 minutes of play, including back-to-back dunks in the last minute of the 3rd quarter, causing the Boston crowd to chant his name. Over the course of the game, Powe shot 13 free throws while the Lakers shot 10.

Despite injuries suffered by Pierce (sprained knee) and [[Kendrick Perkins]] (high ankle sprain), both players started in Game 2 and appeared to be mostly unhampered by the injuries, especially Pierce who finished with 28 points.

Boston finished the game 27-for-38 from the line, while the Lakers were 10-for-10. Some analysts viewed this as favorable treatment toward the Celtics,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/playoffs2008/columns/story?columnist=adande_ja&page=jacksonlakers-080609|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909210350/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2008/columns/story?columnist=adande_ja&page=jacksonlakers-080609|url-status=dead|title=Adande: Lakers overcome by foul outcome in Boston|date=June 9, 2008|archive-date=September 9, 2015|website=ESPN.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/080609|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151107095409/http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons%2F080609|url-status=dead|title=Simmons: C's and the city: Both looking very good – ESPN Page 2|archive-date=November 7, 2015|website=[[ESPN]]}}</ref> while others noted that a difference in playing styles may have led to the discrepancy, and that the actual foul discrepancy was only 28–21 in favor of Boston.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/dailydime?page=dime-080610|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150407121511/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime?page=dime-080610|url-status=live|title=Daily Dime: Lakers need more in paint, beyond arc – NBA – ESPN|archive-date=April 7, 2015|website=[[ESPN]]}}</ref>

===Game 3===
{{basketballbox
 | bg = #eee
 | date = June 10
 | time = 9:00 pm {{small|(6:00 pm [[Pacific Time Zone|PDT]])}}
 | report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080610/BOSLAL/recap.html Recap]<br />{{YouTube|qwpLakUVd1o|Video highlights}}
 | team1 = [[Boston Celtics]]
 | score1 = 81
 | score2 = '''87'''
 | team2 = '''[[Los Angeles Lakers]]'''
 | Q1 = 20–20 | Q2 = 17–'''23''' | Q3 = '''25'''–17 | Q4 = 19–'''27'''
 | points1 = [[Ray Allen]] 25
 | points2 = [[Kobe Bryant]] 36
 | rebounds1 = [[Kevin Garnett]] 12
 | rebounds2 = [[Pau Gasol]] 12
 | assist1 = [[Kevin Garnett]] 5
 | assist2 = [[Jordan Farmar]] 5
 | otherstat1 = '''FG:''' [[Paul Pierce]] 2/14 | otherstat2 = '''FG:''' [[Kobe Bryant]] 12/20
 | place = [[Staples Center]], [[Los Angeles, California]]
 | attendance =18,997
 | referee = <br />
* No. 17 [[Joe Crawford (basketball, born 1951)|Joe Crawford]]
* No. 15 [[Bennett Salvatore]]
* No. 18 [[Mark Wunderlich]]
 | series = Boston leads series, 2–1
 | TV = [[NBA on ABC|ABC]], [[The Sports Network|TSN]], [[Cuatro (channel)|Cuatro]], [[Canal+ (French TV channel)|Canal+]], [[Canal 7 Argentina|Canal 7]]
}}

The [[Los Angeles Lakers|Lakers]] won game 3 on a strong shooting night from regular season MVP [[Kobe Bryant]], who scored a series-high 36 points, leading the [[Los Angeles Lakers|Lakers]] to their first win of the series and adding to their undefeated streak at home in the 2008 postseason. Saša Vujačić scored 20 points in 28 minutes, Paul Pierce had a poor shooting game, making only two of his 14 field goal attempts. Kevin Garnett also had trouble shooting, finishing with only 12 points. Ray Allen was the only member of Boston's Big Three that scored over 13 points, with 25.

===Game 4===
{{basketballbox
 | bg = #eee
 | date = June 12
 | time = 9:00 pm {{small|(6:00 pm [[Pacific Time Zone|PDT]])}}
 | report = [http://www.nba.com/games/20080612/BOSLAL/recap.html Recap]<br />{{YouTube|cUAkjvthEgw|Video highlights}}
 | team1 = '''[[Boston Celtics]]'''
 | score1 = '''97'''
 | score2 = 91
 | team2 = [[Los Angeles Lakers]]
 | Q1 = 14–'''35''' | Q2 = '''26'''–23 | Q3 = '''31'''–15 | Q4 = '''26'''–18
 | points1 = [[Paul Pierce]] 20
 | points2 = [[Lamar Odom]] 19
 | rebounds1 = [[Kevin Garnett]] 11
 | rebounds2 = [[Pau Gasol|Gasol]], [[Lamar Odom|Odom]] 10 each
 | assist1 = [[Paul Pierce]] 7
 | assist2 = [[Kobe Bryant]] 10
 | otherstat1 = '''Stls:''' [[Ray Allen]] 3 | otherstat2 = '''Stls:''' [[Kobe Bryant]] 4
 | place = [[Staples Center]], [[Los Angeles, California]]
 | attendance = 18,997
 | referee = <br />
* No. 14 [[Joe DeRosa (referee)|Joe DeRosa]]
* No. 29 [[Steve Javie]]
* No. 49 Tom Washington
 | series = Boston leads series, 3–1
 | TV = [[NBA on ABC|ABC]], [[The Sports Network|TSN]], [[Cuatro (channel)|Cuatro]], [[Canal+ (French TV channel)|Canal+]], [[Canal 7 Argentina|Canal 7]]
}}

The Lakers jumped out to a 35–14 lead after the first quarter, which was the largest first-quarter lead in NBA Finals history. The Lakers held their ground for most of the third quarter, leading by as many as 24 points. However, the Celtics went on a 21–3 run to end the third quarter, closing the deficit to only two points (73–71). With 4:07 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Celtics took their first lead in the game when Celtics' reserve [[Eddie House]] made an {{convert|18|ft|m|adj=on}} jumper. With House's shot, the Celtics were in the lead for good. The Celtics' victory in Game 4 was the largest comeback in the NBA Finals since {{nbafy|1971}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/25129400/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010021759/http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/25129400/|url-status=dead|title=Homepage|date=August 23, 2015|archive-date=October 10, 2012|website=NBC Sports}}</ref>

The Celtics bench outscored the Lakers bench 35–15, 29 of those points coming from House and [[James Posey]]. [[Kevin Garnett]] finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds in support of Allen (19) and Pierce (20).

===Game 5===
{{basketballbox
 | bg = #eee
 | date = June 15
 | time = 9:00 pm {{small|(6:00 pm [[Pacific Time Zone|PDT]])}}
 | report = {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080619185952/http://www.nba.com./games/20080615/BOSLAL/recap.html |date=June 19, 2008 |title=Recap }}<br />{{YouTube|C16mk4OfcuM|Video highlights}}
 | team1 = [[Boston Celtics]]
 | score1 = 98
 | score2 = '''103'''
 | team2 = '''[[Los Angeles Lakers]]'''
 | Q1 = 22–'''39''' | Q2 = '''30'''–16 | Q3 = 18–'''24''' | Q4 = '''28'''–24
 | points1 = [[Paul Pierce]] 38
 | points2 = [[Kobe Bryant]] 25
 | rebounds1 = [[Kevin Garnett]] 14
 | rebounds2 = [[Pau Gasol]] 13
 | assist1 = [[Paul Pierce]] 8
 | assist2 = [[Pau Gasol]] 6
 | otherstat1 = '''3 PTs''' [[Ray Allen]] 3 | otherstat2 = '''Stls:''' [[Kobe Bryant]] 5
 | place = [[Staples Center]], [[Los Angeles, California]]
 | attendance = 18,997
 | referee = <br />
* No. 27 [[Dick Bavetta]]
* No. 48 [[Scott Foster (referee)|Scott Foster]]
* No. 41 [[Ken Mauer]]
 | series = Boston leads series, 3–2
 | TV = [[NBA on ABC|ABC]], [[The Sports Network|TSN]], [[Cuatro (channel)|Cuatro]], [[Canal+ (French TV channel)|Canal+]], [[Canal 7 Argentina|Canal 7]]
}}

As in Game 4, the Lakers jumped out to an early lead, leading 43–24 with 11 minutes to play in the second quarter. And as in Game 4, the Celtics came back, taking a 62–60 lead behind the strong play of [[Paul Pierce]].

The Lakers finally regained their composure, outscoring Boston 24–18 in the 3rd quarter. In previous games, the Lakers were outscored by Boston in the 3rd quarter (22–31 in Game 1, 19–29 in Game 2, 17–25 in Game 3, and 15–31 in Game 4) by a total of 43 points (73–116).

The Lakers built a 14-point lead in the 4th quarter, but the Celtics again came back with a 16–2 run to tie the game at 90. With less than one minute left in the game, the Celtics had the ball with the Lakers leading 97–95. Pierce beat Bryant off the drive, but Bryant knocked the ball out of Pierce's hands from behind. [[Lamar Odom]] picked up the loose ball and passed downcourt to Bryant for a breakaway dunk, giving the Lakers a 99–95 lead. The Lakers went on to win 103–98, sending the series back to Boston.

Kobe Bryant had 25 points, to go with five steals. Pau Gasol contributed 19 points, 13 rebounds and 6 assists, Odom 20 points and 11 rebounds. For Boston, Pierce had a memorable 38 point effort, but outside of Allen (16 points) and Garnett (13 points and 14 rebounds) did not receive enough support from his teammates to clinch the championship at Staples.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/games/20080615/BOSLAL/recap.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314032249/http://www.nba.com/games/20080615/BOSLAL/recap.html|url-status=dead|title=Lakers Survive Celtics' Rallies|website=[[NBA.com]]|archive-date=March 14, 2016}}</ref>

As for the odds stacked against the Lakers to come back from a 3–1 deficit, Jackson said, "We're young enough and dumb enough to do this."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.daily-jeff.com/news/article/3951451|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204105603/http://www.daily-jeff.com/news/article/3951451|url-status=dead|title=Daily-Jeff.com – Lakers still alive, beat Celtics in Game 5<!-- Bot generated title -->|archive-date=December 4, 2008}}</ref>

===Game 6===
{{basketballbox
 | bg = #eee
 | date = June 17
 | time = 9:00 pm
 | report = {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080622160752/http://www.nba.com/games/20080617/LALBOS/recap.html |date=June 22, 2008 |title=Recap }}<br />{{YouTube|GvurKxS8O3E|Video highlights}}
 | team1 = [[Los Angeles Lakers]]
 | score1 = 92
 | team2 = '''[[Boston Celtics]]'''
 | score2 = '''131'''
 | Q1 = 20–'''24''' | Q2 = 15–'''34''' | Q3 = 25–'''31''' | Q4 = 32–'''42'''
 | points1 = [[Kobe Bryant]] 22
 | points2 = [[Ray Allen|Allen]], [[Kevin Garnett|Garnett]] 26 each
 | rebounds1 = [[Lamar Odom]] 10
 | rebounds2 = [[Kevin Garnett]] 14
 | assist1 = [[Lamar Odom]] 5
 | assist2 = [[Paul Pierce]] 10
 | otherstat1 = '''FT:''' [[Kobe Bryant]] 5/5 | otherstat2 = '''Stls:''' [[Rajon Rondo]] 6
 | place = [[TD Garden|TD Banknorth Garden]], [[Boston, Massachusetts]]
 | attendance = 18,624
 | referee = <br />
* No. 17 [[Joe Crawford (basketball, born 1951)|Joe Crawford]]
* No. 32 [[Eddie F. Rush]]
* No. 15 [[Bennett Salvatore]]
 | TV = [[NBA on ABC|ABC]], [[The Sports Network|TSN]], [[Cuatro (channel)|Cuatro]], [[Canal+ (French TV channel)|Canal+]], [[Canal 7 Argentina|Canal 7]]
| series = Boston wins NBA Finals, 4–2
}}
[[Image:2008FinalsGm6End.JPG|thumb|[[Boston Celtics]] fans, players, coaching personnel, and staff celebrate the franchise's 17th title on June 17|upright]]
[[Image:Doc Rivers.JPG|thumb|right|The Celtics needed 26 games to win their 17th title. By a twist of fate, Coach [[Doc Rivers]] played for the 1993–94 [[New York Knicks]], which held the previous record for most playoff games played in one season, with 25.|upright]]
Entering Game 6, the Celtics set a record of most playoff games played in one season, with 26, breaking the previous record of 25 set by both the [[1993-94 New York Knicks season|1994 New York Knicks]], whom Celtics Coach [[Doc Rivers]] played for, and the [[2004–05 Detroit Pistons season|2005 Detroit Pistons]], both of whom lost in their respective finals in seven games (Knicks in {{nbafy|1994}}, Pistons in {{nbafy|2005}}).<ref name="cnnsi-2008">{{cite news|title=Celtics Seize First NBA Title In 22 Years|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/celtics-seize-first-nba-title-in-22-years/|date=June 17, 2008|agency=Associated Press|access-date=June 18, 2008|work=CBS News}}</ref><ref name="MostGames">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/17/sports/basketball/17nba.html?pagewanted=print|title=Celtics Remain Mindful Of a Missed Opportunity|date=June 17, 2008|first=Howard|last=Beck|newspaper=The New York Times|page=D2| access-date= June 18, 2010 <!--DASHBot-->}}</ref> However, for the 1994 Knicks, the first round was a best-of-five. Since the NBA Finals used the 2-3-2 format from [[1985 NBA Finals|1985]] until [[2013 NBA Finals|2013]], no team has ever won the last two games on the road.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94wwxeE2u_0&t=900s|title = - YouTube|website = [[YouTube]]}}</ref>

After a rocky first quarter, the Celtics dominated the rest of the game. Maintaining a lead of more than 25 points, the Celtics' Big Three performed phenomenally, while the whole team smothered the Lakers' offense with their tight defense. Boston dominated in numerous statistical categories, including rebounds (48–29, with a 14–2 disparity in offensive boards), turnovers (7–19), steals (18–4), assists (33–16) and blocks (4–0). Five Celtics finished in double figures. [[Ray Allen]] hit seven three-pointers to tie what was then the Finals record (which he subsequently broke during the [[2010 NBA Finals]] against the Lakers during game two), [[Rajon Rondo]] had an all-around spectacular performance (21 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 6 steals), the Celtics only turned the ball over seven times and set a Finals record with 18 steals, and every Boston player who saw action scored.<ref name=globe>{{cite news|title=NBA Basketball|url=http://boston.stats.com/nba/boxscore.asp?gamecode=2008061702&home=2&vis=13&meta=true|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130208191901/http://boston.stats.com/nba/boxscore.asp?gamecode=2008061702&home=2&vis=13&meta=true|archive-date=February 8, 2013|date=June 18, 2008|publisher=Boston Globe|access-date=June 18, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Postgame, [[Kevin Garnett]] delivered his famous "anything is possible" speech during an interview with [[Michele Tafoya]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=@espn |first1=espn |title="ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!" 🙌 Kevin Garnett gave his legendary interview 12 years ago after the Celtics won their first title in 22 years. |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CBib-4YDR28/?hl=en |website=www.instagram.com |access-date=19 June 2025}}</ref>

The 39-point margin of victory was the largest ever in an NBA championship-clinching game, breaking the old record of 33, also set by the Celtics over the Lakers in Game Five of the [[1965 NBA Finals]], 129–96.<ref name="cnnsi-2008"/> This lead was close to the Finals point-spread record set in Game 3 in {{nbafy|1998}} where a [[Michael Jordan]]-led [[Chicago Bulls]] team beat the [[Utah Jazz]] by 42 points, 96–54.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/25227077/|title=Largest margins of victory in NBA Finals|publisher=NBCSports.com|access-date=June 19, 2008 <!--DASHBot-->|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205181257/http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/25227077/|archive-date=December 5, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.internetfm.com/srn/finals98.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080605185029/http://www.internetfm.com/srn/finals98.htm|url-status=dead|title=1998 NBA Finals<!-- Bot generated title -->|archive-date=June 5, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/nba/longterm/1998/finals/articles/nba8.htm|title=Bulls Roll to Game 3 Victory, 96–54|date=June 8, 1998|first=Ric|last=Bucher|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=October 1, 2009}}</ref> The Celtics also improved their overall record against the Lakers to 9–2 in Finals meetings, beating them in the Finals for the first time since [[1984 NBA Finals|1984]].<ref name="globe"/>

This was the Celtics' 17th championship, their first since {{nbafy|1986}}, extending their [[List of NBA champions|record]] for most NBA championships won by a single team. All this capped off the Celtics' best regular season (66–16) since their [[1985-86 Boston Celtics season|previous championship season]] in which they went 67–15. It was also a sense of relief, as the Celtics set an NBA record for most playoff games ever needed to win a championship, with 26, surpassing the previous record of 24 by the Lakers in {{nbafy|1988}}.<ref name="cnnsi-2008"/>

The Celtics' win was also seen as an addition to the recent success of [[Sports in Boston|Boston-area sports teams]], following the wins by the [[New England Patriots]] in Super Bowls [[Super Bowl XXXVI|XXXVI]], [[Super Bowl XXXVIII|XXXVIII]], and [[Super Bowl XXXIX|XXXIX]] (2001, 2003 and 2004 seasons) and the [[Boston Red Sox|Red Sox]]'s World Series wins in {{wsy|2004}} (death of the [[Curse of the Bambino]]) and {{wsy|2007}}.

The Celtics won this series by winning Games 1, 2, 4, and 6; coincidentally, the last time the two teams met in {{nbafy|1987}}, the Lakers won that series in identical fashion. It was also the same identical fashion when the Celtics won the NBA Finals in {{nbafy|1986}} before this championship.

==Rosters==
===Boston Celtics===
<!-- This is an intentionally substituted copy of [[Template:Boston Celtics roster]] kept as a "snapshot" for this championship round -->
{{NBA roster header|team=Boston Celtics|season=2007–08}}
<!-- list of players -->
{{player2 | num = 20 | first = Ray | last = Allen | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 5 | lbs = 205 | college = University of Connecticut }}
{{player2 | num = 42 | first = Tony | last = Allen | dab = basketball | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 4 | lbs = 213 | college = Oklahoma State }}
{{player2 | num = 93 | first = P.J. | last = Brown | pos = F/C | ft = 6 | in = 11 | lbs = 239 | college = Louisiana Tech }}
{{player2 | num = 28 | first = Sam | last = Cassell | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 3 | lbs = 185 | college = Florida State }}
{{player2 | num = 11 | first = Glen | last = Davis | dab = basketball | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 9 | lbs = 289 | college = Louisiana State }}
{{player2 | num = 5 | first = Kevin | last = Garnett | pos = F/C | ft = 6 | in = 11 | lbs = 220 | school = Farragut }}
{{player2 | num = 50 | first = Eddie | last = House | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 1 | lbs = 175 | school = Arizona State }}
{{player2 | num = 43 | first = Kendrick | last = Perkins | pos = C | ft = 6 | in = 10 | lbs = 264 | school = CJOHS }}
{{player2 | num = 34 | first = Paul | last = Pierce | pos = G/F | ft = 6 | in = 7 | lbs = 235 | school = Kansas }}
{{player2 | num = 66 | first = Scot | last = Pollard | pos = C | ft = 6 | in = 11 | lbs = 278 |
school = Kansas }}
{{player2 | num = 41 | first = James | last = Posey | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 8 | lbs = 217 |
school = Xavier }}
{{player2 | num = 0 | first = Leon | last = Powe | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 8 | lbs = 240 |
school = University of California, Berkeley }}
{{player2 | num = 13 | first = Gabe | last = Pruitt | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 4 | lbs = 170 | college = USC }}
{{player2 | num = 9 | first = Rajon | last = Rondo | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 1 | lbs = 171 |
college = University of Kentucky }}
{{player2 | num = 44 | first = Brian | last = Scalabrine | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 9 | lbs = 235 | college = USC }}
<!-- end list of players -->
{{NBA roster footer
| head_coach =
* {{player||USA|[[Doc Rivers]]}} ({{college|Marquette}})
| asst_coach =
* {{player||USA|[[Armond Hill]]}} ([[Princeton University|Princeton]])
* {{player||USA|[[Kevin Eastman (basketball coach)|Kevin Eastman]]}} ([[University of Richmond|Richmond]])
* {{player||USA|[[Clifford Ray]]}} ([[University of Oklahoma|Oklahoma]])
* {{player||USA|[[Mike Longabardi]]}} ([[Frostburg State University|Frostburg State]])
* {{player||USA|[[Tom Thibodeau]]}} ([[Salem State College|Salem State]])
| roster_url = http://www.nba.com/celtics/roster/
| transaction_url = http://www.hoopshype.com/general_managers/danny_ainge.htm
| access-date = March 4, 2008
}}

===Los Angeles Lakers===
<!-- This is an intentionally substituted copy of [[Template:Los Angeles Lakers roster]] kept as a "snapshot" for this championship round -->
{{NBA roster header|team=Los Angeles Lakers|season=2007–08}}
<!-- list of players -->
{{player2 | num = 3 | first = Trevor | last = Ariza | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 8 | lbs = 220 | college = UCLA }}
{{player2 | num = 24 | first = Kobe | last = Bryant | pos = G/F | ft = 6 | in = 6 | lbs = 205 | college = [[Lower Merion High School|Lower Merion HS (PA)]] }}
{{player2 | num = 17 | first = Andrew | last = Bynum | pos = C | ft = 7 | in = 0 | lbs = 285 | college = [[St. Joseph High School (Metuchen, New Jersey)|St. Joseph HS (NJ)]] }}
{{player2 | num = 5 | first = Jordan | last = Farmar | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 2 | lbs = 180 | college = UCLA }}
{{player2 | num = 2 | first = Derek | last = Fisher | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 1 | lbs = 210 | college = UALR }}
{{player2 | num = 16 | first = Pau | last = Gasol | pos = F/C | ft = 7 | in = 0 | lbs = 260 | from = Spain }}
{{player2 | num = 11| first = Coby | last = Karl | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 5 | lbs = 215 | college = Boise State }}
{{player2 | num = 28| first = D. J. | last = Mbenga| pos = C | ft = 7 | in = 0 | lbs = 215 | from = DR Congo }}
{{player2 | num = 31 | first = Chris | last = Mihm | pos = C | ft = 7 | in = 0 | lbs = 245 | college = Texas }}
{{player2 | num = 14 | first = Ira | last = Newble | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 7 | lbs = 220 | college = Miami (OH) }}
{{player2 | num = 7 | first = Lamar | last = Odom | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 10 | lbs = 230 | college = Rhode Island }}
{{player2 | num = 10 | first = Vladimir | last = Radmanović | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 10 | lbs = 235 | from = Serbia }}
{{player2 | num = 21 | first = Ronny | last = Turiaf | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 10 | lbs = 250 | college = Gonzaga }}
{{player2 | num = 18 | first = Saša | last = Vujačić | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 7 | lbs = 205 | from = Slovenia }}
{{player2 | num = 4 | first = Luke | last = Walton | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 8 | lbs = 235 | college = Arizona }}
<!-- end list of players -->
{{NBA roster footer
| head_coach =
* {{player||USA|[[Phil Jackson]]}} ({{college|North Dakota}})
| asst_coach =
* {{player||USA|[[Frank Hamblen]]}} ({{college|Syracuse}})
* {{player||USA|[[Kurt Rambis]]}} ({{college|Santa Clara}})
* {{player||USA|[[Brian Shaw (basketball)|Brian Shaw]]}} ({{college|UC-Santa Barbara}})
* {{player||USA|[[Kareem Abdul-Jabbar]]}} ({{college|UCLA}})
* {{player||USA|[[Craig Hodges]]}} ({{college|Long Beach State}})
* {{player||USA|[[Jim Cleamons]]}} ({{college|Ohio State}})
* {{player||USA|[[Tex Winter]]}} ({{college|USC}})
| roster_url = http://www.nba.com/lakers/roster/
| transaction_url = http://www.hoopshype.com/general_managers/mitch_kupchak.htm
| access-date = March 21, 2008
}}

==Player statistics==
{{NBA roster statistics legend}}

;Boston Celtics
{{NBA roster statistics start|team=Boston Celtics}}
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|Ray|Allen}} || 6 || 6 || '''41.0''' || .507 || '''.524''' || .867 || 5.0 || 2.5 || 1.3 || 0.7 || 20.3
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|Tony|Allen|dab=basketball}} || 3 || 0 || 6.3 || '''.667''' || .000 || .000 || 0.3 || 0.7 || 0.3 || 0.0 || 2.7
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|P. J.|Brown}} || 6 || 0 || 19.5 || .391 || .000 || .750 || 3.2 || 0.7 || 0.5 || 0.5 || 4.0
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|Sam|Cassell}} || 5 || 0 || 10.1 || .375 || .000 || '''1.000''' || 0.2 || 1.2 || 0.4 || 0.0 || 3.8
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|Glen|Davis|dab=basketball}} || 1 || 0 || 14.6 || .500 || .000 || .500 || 4.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 3.0
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|Kevin|Garnett}} || 6 || 6 || 37.9 || .429 || .000 || .760 || '''13.0''' || 3.0 || '''1.7''' || '''1.0''' || 18.2
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|Eddie|House}} || 4 || 0 || 18.5 || .357 || .412 || .833 || 2.5 || 2.5 || 0.3 || 0.0 || 8.0
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|Kendrick|Perkins}} || 5 || 5 || 18.4 || .571 || .000 || .667 || 3.6 || 0.4 || 0.6 || '''1.0''' || 4.0
|-! style="background:#FDE910;"
| align="left" | {{sortname|Paul|Pierce}} || 6 || 6 || 38.8 || .432 || .393 || .830 || 4.5 || 6.3 || 1.2 || 0.3 || '''21.8'''
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|James|Posey}} || 6 || 0 || 25.2 || .500 || .500 || '''1.000''' || 3.8 || 0.5 || 1.3 || 0.2 || 8.7
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|Leon|Powe}} || 6 || 1 || 8.9 || .550 || .000 || .714 || 3.2 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 6.2
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|Rajon|Rondo}} || 6 || 6 || 27.0 || .377 || .000 || .593 || 3.8 || '''6.7''' || 1.5 || 0.5 || 9.3
{{s-end}}

;Los Angeles Lakers
{{NBA roster statistics start|team=Los Angeles Lakers}}
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|Trevor|Ariza}} || 5 || 0 || 7.0 || '''.556''' || .333 || .500 || 1.8 || 0.2 || 0.2 || 0.2 || 2.6
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|Kobe|Bryant}} || 6 || 6 || '''43.0''' || .405 || .321 || .796 || 4.7 || '''5.0''' || '''2.7''' || 0.2 || '''25.7'''
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|Jordan|Farmar}} || 6 || 0 || 19.2 || .484 || '''.529''' || .750 || 1.8 || 1.3 || 0.3 || 0.5 || 7.0
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|Derek|Fisher}} || 6 || 6 || 31.2 || .405 || .188 || .824 || 1.5 || 3.2 || 1.5 || 0.0 || 10.8
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|Pau|Gasol}} || 6 || 6 || 39.0 || .532 || .000 || .647 || '''10.2''' || 3.3 || 0.5 || 0.5 || 14.7
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|Chris|Mihm}} || 1 || 0 || 2.8 || .000 || .000 || .000 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|Lamar|Odom}} || 6 || 6 || 36.7 || .517 || .200 || .643 || 9.0 || 3.0 || 0.3 || '''1.0''' || 13.5
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|Vladimir|Radmanović}} || 6 || 6 || 21.3 || .390 || .385 || '''1.000''' || 4.8 || 1.3 || 0.7 || 0.0 || 7.3
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|Ronny|Turiaf}} || 6 || 0 || 10.4 || .500 || .000 || .250 || 0.7 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.5 || 1.8
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|Sasha|Vujačić}} || 6 || 0 || 22.0 || .391 || .348 || .857 || 2.0 || 0.8 || 0.5 || 0.2 || 8.3
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|Luke|Walton}} || 6 || 0 || 11.0 || .313 || .333 || .750 || 1.0 || 1.2 || 0.2 || 0.2 || 2.5
{{s-end}}

==Broadcasting==
The Finals, produced by [[NBA on ESPN|ESPN]], were aired on [[NBA on ABC|ABC]] in the United States for the sixth consecutive year. This was also [[Michele Tafoya]]'s last Finals appearance as a sideline reporter due to her resignation shortly before the [[2008–09 NBA season|2008–09 season]].<ref name="StarTrib1">{{cite news|last=Zulgad |first=Judd |title=Tafoya gives up NBA duties |work=Timberwolves |publisher=[[Star Tribune]] |date=October 21, 2008 |url=http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/31813654.html |access-date=October 21, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081024125627/http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/31813654.html |archive-date=October 24, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> She was later succeeded by [[Doris Burke]] (2009–19), [[Rachel Nichols (journalist)|Rachel Nichols]] (2020), [[Malika Andrews]] (2021), and [[Lisa Salters]] (2022–present).

Local TV broadcasts of the competing franchises were Los Angeles' [[KABC-TV]] and Boston's [[WCVB-TV]].

==Aftermath==
In the [[2008-09 NBA season|2008–09 season]], the [[2008-09 Boston Celtics season|Celtics]] got off to an impressive start with a 27–2 record, marking the best start through 29 games in NBA history. However, their momentum halted when they faced the Lakers on [[NBA Christmas games|Christmas Day]] in a fateful finals rematch, bringing an end to their franchise-high 19-game winning streak. Shortly after the [[2009 NBA All-Star Game|2009 All-Star Game]], [[Kevin Garnett]] suffered a devastating right knee injury which sidelined him for the remainder of the season. Despite finishing the season with 62 wins, the absence of Garnett had a noticeable impact on the team's performance as they were eliminated in seven games by the [[Dwight Howard]]-led [[2008-09 Orlando Magic season|Orlando Magic]] in the [[2009 NBA playoffs#Conference semifinals|2009 Eastern Conference semifinals]].

The Lakers experienced a resurgence in the subsequent season, winning 65 games and clinching the [[2009 NBA Finals|2009 NBA championship title]] in five games after overcoming the [[Dwight Howard]]-led [[2008-09 Orlando Magic season|Orlando Magic]]. Even though another mid-season injury to [[Andrew Bynum]] threatened their title drive, he did come back late in the season. The [[2008-09 Los Angeles Lakers season|2008-09 Los Angeles Lakers]] became the first team since the [[1988-89 Detroit Pistons season|1988–89 Detroit Pistons]] to win the NBA Finals after losing it in the previous year.

Both teams would eventually meet again in [[2010 NBA Finals|2010]], where the [[2009-10 Los Angeles Lakers season|Lakers]] exacted revenge by finding themselves pitted against the [[2009-10 Boston Celtics season|Boston Celtics]] for the first time in two years. The Lakers avenged their 2008 NBA Finals loss and repeated as NBA Champions after besting Boston in seven games, winning their fifth NBA Championship title in the last ten seasons. The Lakers would not return to the NBA Finals again until a decade later, where  the [[2019–20 Los Angeles Lakers season|2019-2020 team]], led by [[LeBron James]] and [[Anthony Davis]], won the [[2020 NBA Finals|NBA championship]]. The Celtics would not return to make another appearance in the Finals again until 12 years later in [[2022 NBA Finals|2022]], where the [[Jaylen Brown]] and [[Jayson Tatum]]-led [[2021-22 Boston Celtics season|team]]  eventually succumbed to the [[Stephen Curry]]-led [[2021-22 Golden State Warriors season|Golden State Warriors]] in six games. Two years thereafter, the [[2023-24 Boston Celtics season|Celtics]] would reach the NBA Finals yet again in [[2024 NBA Finals|2024]], emerging victorious in a five-game series over the [[Luka Dončić]] and [[Kyrie Irving]]-led [[2023-24 Dallas Mavericks season|Dallas Mavericks]], garnering their first championship title in 16 years and 18th overall, effectively consolidating their position as the NBA franchise with the [[List of NBA champions#Results by team|highest number of NBA championship titles]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Zillgitt|first=Jeff|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/columnist/jeff-zillgitt/2024/05/28/boston-celtics-chasing-record-setting-18th-title-nba-finals/73874288007/|title=Boston Celtics now just four wins from passing Los Angeles Lakers for most NBA titles|publisher=[[USA Today]]|date=May 28, 2024|access-date=May 31, 2024}}</ref> On the 2024 Celtics championship team as an assistant coach was 2008 Celtics alum [[Sam Cassell]].

==See also==
* [[Celtics–Lakers rivalry]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/finals2008/ |title=Official site |website=[[NBA.com]] |access-date=May 30, 2008 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501235742/http://www.nba.com/finals2008/ |archive-date=May 1, 2009 }}

{{NBA Finals}}
{{Boston Celtics 2007–08 NBA champions}}
{{Boston Celtics}}
{{Los Angeles Lakers}}
{{2007–08 NBA season by team}}
{{NBA on ABC}}
{{NBA on ESPN Radio}}
{{Portal bar|Sports}}

[[Category:NBA Finals]]
[[Category:2007–08 NBA season|Finals]]
[[Category:2008 in Boston|NBA Finals]]
[[Category:2008 in sports in Los Angeles|NBA Finals]]
[[Category:2008 in sports in Massachusetts|NBA Finals]]
[[Category:Basketball competitions in Boston]]
[[Category:Basketball competitions in Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Boston Celtics games|NBA Finals]]
[[Category:June 2008 sports events in the United States|NBA Finals]]
[[Category:Los Angeles Lakers games|NBA Finals]]

[[it:NBA Playoffs 2008#NBA Finals: Boston Celtics - Los Angeles Lakers]]