Celtics Bench Outplaying Lakers Bench

BOSTON (AP) – The Los Angeles Lakers count on Lamar Odom to

provide a lift off a bench that has been outplayed by the Boston

Celtics in the NBA finals. They're still waiting.

With Andrew Bynum's sore right knee cutting into the center's

playing time, it's even more important that Odom step up in Game 5

on Sunday night.

Odom wasn't much help in Boston's 96-89 win Thursday night that

evened the best-of-seven series at 2-2. He had 10 points and 7

rebounds in a series-high 39 minutes while Bynum was limited to 12

minutes – only 2 in the second half. Lakers coach Phil Jackson said

he thinks the Lakers can win even if Bynum can't play Sunday.

Off the bench, the Celtics outscored the Lakers 36-18 in Game 4.

For the series, Boston's reserves hold a 102-70 edge in points and

a 45-37 lead in rebounds.

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