( CNN ) -- Veteran Los Angeles Lakers guard Derek Fisher has been praised by his teammates after helping the defending champions to a 91-84 victory over the Boston Celtics in the third game of the best-of-seven series NBA finals . As Lakers star Kobe Bryant 's points tally began to dry up , the 35-year-old scored 11 points in the last quarter to seal victory for his team and a 2-1 series advantage . With less than a minute to go he produced a crucial layup that gave the West Coast side a seven-point lead which the Celtics could not recover from . Bryant , who finished with a team-high 29 points from 29 shots , was full of praise for Fisher -- who scored 16 in total and was mobbed by his teammates at the final whistle . `` Fisher is our vocal leader , the heart and soul of this team , '' Bryant told the official Lakers Web site . `` He 's been criticized quite a bit for his age . It 's a huge thrill for him and for all of us to see him come through in these moments . '' Game two : Celtics level series . `` I love what I do . I love helping my team win , '' Fisher added on his team 's official Web site . `` To come through tonight , again , for this team , 14 years in after so many great moments , it 's always quite surreal . '' Celtics coach Doc Rivers , whose team last won the NBA title back in 2008 , also admitted that Fisher 's performance played a pivotal role in the Lakers win . `` He was the difference in the game , '' Rivers told the official NBA Web site . `` He 's just a gutty , gritty player . He basically took the game over . '' Game one : Lakers win opener . Rivers ' East Coast team lost the first game of the series in Los Angeles on June 3 but took home-court advantage away from the Californians , beating them in the second game on June 6 . Play now remains in Boston for game four on Thursday , and the New England side will be hoping they can once again get the better of the Lakers , this time on their home court . `` You ca n't really write the story until the next game . As a team we 're just going to come out and play with a lot of energy , '' the Celtics ' Rajon Rondo , who scored just 11 points in what was a disappointing night for his team , told the official NBA Web site . `` I think we lost our composure tonight in a couple possessions and that hurt us . '' After two poor games , Kevin Garnett was Boston 's top scorer with 25 points . But off-days from Paul Pierce and Ray Allen -- who scored an impressive 32 in game two -- allowed the Lakers to open up a lead of 12 points at halftime . The Celtics did attempt a comeback in the second half , reducing their opponents ' advantage to just one , but they were not strong enough to overtake the Lakers . The Lakers are defending the title they won against Orlando last year , while the Celtics are looking to reclaim the crown they have won a record 17 times -- their last victory coming over the L.A. side in 2008 .
The Lakers beat Boston Celtics 89 - 84 in the third game of the best - of - seven NBA finals . The Lakers are now leading the series 2 - 1 with the next game to be played in Boston . Derek Fisher scored 11 in the last quarter and Kobe Bryant 29 in the game to aid the Lakers win . Kevin Garnett scored 25 for Celtics but Paul Pierce and Ray Allen had poor scoring days .