NBA Finals: Game 1

NBA Finals: Game 1

Damian Strohmeyer/SI

The Lakers and Celtics get set to face off in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1987.

Bob Rosato/SI

Paul Pierce left the game in a wheelchair in the third quarter after injuring his knee, only to make a dramatic return to the court a few minutes later. His inspiring second-half performance helped rally the Celtics to a 98-88 victory in Game 1.

Bob Rosato/SI

Kevin Garnett shot only 3-of-13 from the field in the second half, but one of his baskets was this put-back dunk in the fourth quarter.

Bob Rosato/SI

Kobe Bryant scored 24 points on only 9-of-26 shooting from the field against Ray Allen and the Celtics.

Bob Rosato/SI

Kobe Bryant was one of the Lakers who tried to slow down Paul Pierce, who scored 19 of his 22 points after halftime.

John W. McDonough/SI

Ray Allen, shadowed by Lakers guard Sasha Vujacic, scored 19 points in the first NBA Finals game of his 12-year career.

Bob Rosato/SI

Kendrick Perkins and Kevin Garnett sandwich Kobe Bryant -- a fine example of the NBA's top-ranked defense at work. The Lakers, in fact, scored only 37 points in the second half.

Bob Rosato/SI

Kevin Garnett's trademark intensity was on full display in the series opener. He finished with 24 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.

John W. McDonough/SI

Derek Fisher, one of the few Lakers players with Finals experience, was solid in Game 1 with 15 points and six assists.

John W. McDonough/SI

The Lakers' Pau Gasol and P.J. Brown battle for a rebound. Gasol collected 15 points and eight rebounds, while the 38-year-old Brown gave the Celtics some valuable minutes off the bench.