(Sports Network) - The Boston Celtics have another chance to capture their 17th championship in franchise history, as they welcome the Los Angeles Lakers tonight to TD Banknorth Garden for Game 6 of the NBA Finals.

On Sunday, MVP Kobe Bryant scored 25 points and, despite squandering leads of 19 and 14 points, the Lakers stayed alive with a 103-98 win over the Celtics at the Staples Center in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

The Lakers overcame a 38-point performance by Boston's Paul Pierce, and trail the best-of-seven series 3-2.

Lamar Odom scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, while Pau Gasol finished with 19 points and 13 boards for the Lakers. Veteran Derek Fisher added 15 points in the victory.

Ray Allen scored 16 points on 4-of-13 shooting in the loss for Boston, and Kevin Garnett registered a double-double with 13 points and a game-high 14 rebounds

On the injury front for Boston, center Kendrick Perkins (strained right shoulder) is probable for tonight's contest. Perkins, who did not play in Game 5, is averaging 6.8 points and 6.2 rebounds per game in the playoffs.

The last time the Lakers were eliminated on the road in the NBA Finals was in 2004, when they lost Game 5 and the series, 4-1, to Chauncey Billups and the Detroit Pistons

Boston is trying to win its first title since 1986. The last time the Celtics won a championship at home was in 1986 when they defeated the Houston Rockets in Game 6 of the finals.

The Celtics captured Games 1 and 2 of this series at TD Banknorth Garden, while LA made it a 2-1 series with an 87-81 victory in Game 3 at the Staples Center. Boston grabbed a commanding 3-1 lead with a 97-91 win in the fourth game of the set.

If necessary, the decisive Game 7 is scheduled for Thursday evening in Boston.

The Lakers, who have lost six of their last eight games in the NBA Finals, are 10-1 at home and 4-5 as the visitor in the 2008 playoffs.

No team has ever comeback from a 3-1 deficit in the NBA Finals. Teams that take a 3-1 lead in the championship round are a perfect 28-0 in the NBA's championship round. Only three teams have ever comeback to win the NBA Finals after dropping Games 1 and 2. The 1969 Celtics, 1977 Trail Blazers and 2006 Heat all won the title after losing the first two contests.

Boston is 7-0 all-time when it wins the first two games in the NBA Finals, while the Lakers are 0-5 when they lose Games 1 and 2.

This is the 11th time these storied franchises have squared off in the championship round. Boston has won eight of the 10 previous matchups in the finals. The Celtics defeated the Lakers in 1959, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969 and 1984. However, LA has won the last two meetings as it beat Boston in six games in 1985 and 1987.

Boston, which was the top seed in the Eastern Conference, is playing in the NBA Finals for the 20th time and has won 16 titles.

The Celtics are 12-1 at home and 3-9 on the road in this year's playoffs.

Boston is 7-8 all-time in the sixth game of the NBA Finals, while the Lakers are 11-6.

The Lakers, who were the top seed in the Western Conference playoffs, are participating in the NBA Finals for the 23rd time since moving from Minneapolis to Los Angeles in 1961. LA is 9-13 in the championship round and has an overall record of 59-67 in games played in the NBA Finals.

It is the 29th time in franchise history the Lakers have made it to the championship round, as they were 5-1 in this round as the Minneapolis Lakers.