It's a Hollywood horror-show for Kobe Bryant as LA Lakers' finals dream falters at the hands of Boston Celtics

Will Kobe Bryant bring Lakers again to a new NBA crown?

In the end it was so quiet you could almost hear Jack Nicholson's hips click as he rose unhappily from his courtside seat.

The crowd had fled for the exits before the end and the old rogue was one of the last to leave, slowly lifting his sunglasses and rubbing his eyes after watching the LA Lakers suffer their first home play-off defeat 103 v 94 against the Boston Celtics. The seven-game series is now tied at 1-1.

This was meant to be the Hollywood house where Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant reigned supreme. But Ray Allen showed no respect for Boston's status as guests. He didn't just make himself at home at LA's Staples Arena, the accomplished guard emptied the drinks cabinet, raided the fridge and slapped his muddy feet on the coffee table.

Allen scored 27 points in a blistering first half, 32 in all, firing effortlessly from long range like a machine, over and over again.

Throughout the entire game one the Celtics collectively managed to score a solitary three point basket. During game two, Allen claimed a record-breaking eight three-pointers all by himself with a performance that turned the series on its head.

This wasn't how it was supposed to be. Bryant had been billed as the heir apparent to Michael Jordan's crown in all the pre-finals hype. But as Allen struck with unerring accuracy, he was the player being compared to the legend, with shooting that echoed Jordan's celebrated display in the 1992 finals against Portland.

On that night, Jordan famously shrugged as he claimed 35 points in one half. This time, Allen, smiled wryly, as if the 27 point blitz was what he expected to do all along.

'We needed points and Ray gave them to us,' said Boston coach Doc Rivers. 'Was he hot? Well, I've not seen him much warmer than that.'

Allen knew the significance of the result, if not his achievement. 'This is definitely our time,' he said. 'There's no better place, moment or time to win a game in that fashion. I wasn't aware of the record, but it's great to be able to look back one day and say "I did that".'

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