Boston Celtics Struggle In First Game

LOS ANGELES (AP) – The stats were better suited for a backup big

man than one of the NBA's smoothest shooters.

Three baskets, five fouls.

Those were the final numbers of Ray Allen, who spent much of

Game 1 of the NBA finals trudging back to the bench after picking

up another foul.

And it's pretty simple for the Boston Celtics: They aren't going

to win with Allen as a spectator.

Allen was limited to only 27 minutes because of foul trouble in

Boston's 102-89 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night.

He took only eight shots and scored just 12 points.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)