Boston, MA (My Sportsbook) - Paul Pierce scored 28 points and Tony Delk added 26 as the Boston Celtics staved off a second-half comeback and outlasted the Los Angeles Lakers, 98-95, in overtime at the FleetCenter. Kobe Bryant poured in a game-high 41 points, including 18 in the third quarter, as the Lakers rallied back from a 15-point first-half deficit to carry a lead into the final frame.

Pierce drained a three-pointer with 1:54 to go in the extra session to give Boston a 96-93 advantage. Bryant responded by rattling home a jumper with just under a minute to go to bring the Lakers within one, but two Delk free throws with nine seconds on the clock iced the game for the Celtics.

LA had one more shot at the tie, but a jumper at the buzzer by Bryant clanked off the rim.

Eric Williams chipped in 16 points and Tony Battie grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds for the Celtics, who have now won three in a row. Antoine Walker scored 13 in the winning effort.

Devean George scored 11 points, while Samaki Walker and Brian Shaw each contributed 10 for the Lakers, who were without the services of Shaquille O'Neal for the sixth straight game. LA has lost four of its first six games of the season.

O'Neal, who underwent toe surgery in September, is eligible to be activated off the injured list, but will likely not see action until Tuesday's home game against Atlanta.

Despite the scoring outbreak, Bryant was just 17-of-47 from the field as he set a personal high in field goal attempts. LA, which was coming off a stunning 89-70 loss to Cleveland on Tuesday in which the team set a franchise- low for points in a game, made just 4-of-23 from behind the arc as a team.

The Lakers outscored Boston in the third quarter, 36-17, including a 15-4 run to open the frame and pull within four, 54-50. Walker drained a nine-foot hook-shot with 4:03 left to play that gave LA its first lead of the half, 60-59. Bryant was on fire during the period, hitting on 8-of-12 shots to lead the Laker comeback.

LA ended the frame with a 71-67 advantage.

Competitive play highlighted the fourth quarter as the lead exchanged hands several times. Pierce drained a 17-footer to give the Celtics a brief 87-86 advantage, but LA regained the lead after Shaw stole the ball at midcourt and handed off to Bryant, who dished to a breaking George for the tough layup and a trip to the charity stripe with 1:09 to go in the frame. George drained the free throw to put the Lakers ahead, 89-87.

Walker drained a four-footer with 35 seconds to go in regulation to knot the game at 89-89 and send the contest into overtime.

Poor shooting by LA defined play early in the game, as the Lakers made just 1- of-11 shots over the first seven minutes of play. The defending champs ended the first quarter just 6-of-21 from the field and trailed the Celtics, 26-15. Boston benefited from strong backcourt play as Delk and Pierce both scored eight to pace the Celtics, who were 4-of-10 from behind the arc in the quarter.

Delk drained consecutive three-pointers to open the second quarter, giving Boston a 17-point lead, 32-15, just 1:30 into the frame. It was Boston's largest advantage of the contest. After continuing to dominate throughout the stanza, the Celtics equaled that lead with just 26 seconds to go in the half when Williams drained an amazing 49-foot three-pointer to put Boston ahead, 50-33. Bryant converted two from the charity stripe at the end of the period to lessen the Laker deficit to 15. LA headed to the locker room down, 50-35.

Delk and Williams led all first half scorers with 14 points apiece and Pierce added 11 for the Celtics. Delk was 4-of-6 from behind the arc.

Bryant shot just 4-of-15 over the first two quarters, but still paced the Lakers with 11 points as LA shot a paltry 32-percent in the half and were just 1-of-9 from downtown.

Boston won both meetings with the Lakers last season after dropping the previous four contests. Despite the loss, Los Angeles has still won five of the last eight matchups at Boston.