Boston Celtics Beat Lakers 98-88 Boston Celtics VS LA Lakers 2008 NBA Finals Game 1 June 5th 2008 Sports Celtics Advance to the NBA FinalsCeltics Advance to the NBA FinalsThe Associated PressIt’s on to the NBA finals for the Boston Celtics, who beat Detroit 89-81 in game six to win the Eastern Conference finals. Boston will meet the LA Lakers in the NBA finals for the 11th time. (May 31)The Boston Celtics are headed back to the NBA finals for the first time in 21 years.Boston won the Eastern Conference finals 4-games to two, beating Detroit 89-81 in game six.The Celtics were down by 10 points in the 4th quarter, but rallied to win.Boston scored nine points in less than 2 minutes. A 19-4 run put them ahead 79-74.Paul Pierce was game-high for the Celtics, scoring 27 points.Ray Allen had 17 and Kevin Garnett added 16 in the series-clinching victory.Chauncey Billups led Detroit with 29 points. But Rasheed Wallace only sank 2 of 12 shots, and scored just 4 points. He also hadthree turnovers.Boston’s win sets up a marquee matchup with an old rival, the LA Lakers.The two teams will meet for the 11th time for the NBA championship.This will be the Celtics 20th trip to the NBA finals, which get underway June 5th with game one in Boston.