The Lakers did something on Christmas that no team has been able to do since early November, beat the defending-champion Celtics.

Kobe Bryant had 27 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists, Pau Gasol scored seven of his 20 points in the final three minutes, and the Lakers used a strong finish to beat Boston 92-83 Thursday, ending the team's nineteen-game winning streak.

"We've been waiting for that opportunity for a long time, and we won," said Lakers guard Sasha Vujacic. "I don't like them at all. A lot of people called us softies or whatever. It doesn't matter at all. We know what we can do.

"Last year, they won the championship. This year, it's our year, we want to take it all the way."