Paul Pierce and Kobe Bryant's teams haven't met since February 10, 2011, when the Lakers prevailed 92-86 behind a 23-point game from Kobe at TD Garden. Boston and Los Angeles split the two-game season series in 2011. In their first meeting of the season, the Celtics overcame Bryant's 41-point performance to capture a 109-96 victory on January 30.
This year, both teams have had their ups and downs. Boston and Los Angeles both dropped their first two games, and they followed their tough starts with winning streaks. However, the Celtics hit a rough patch, dropping five straight, while the Lakers have not lost more than three consecutive games this season.
