We all knew this is going to be one dramatic seven-game championship series and Thursday night sure was just that.

Game 1 of the 2008 NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers finally got underway at the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston, Thursday night. The Celtics fans were just crazy as they welcome the visiting Lakers with the hostility one can only find in countries like Iraq.

And although Game 1 was a tightly contested ballgame, the Boston Celtics, a team coming into this one as underdogs, managed to pull off a 98-88 win over Los Angeles to take the early 1-0 series lead. Was it because of homecourt advantage or the fact that they still don’t get the credit they deserve? Neither.

Paul Pierce let the TRUTH be told and in Game 1, he was simply the ANSWER. For all ya’ll who missed it, Pierce was carried off the court early in the third quarter of Game 1 after his teammate Kendrick Perkins, accidentally bumped into his leg. It wasn’t a pretty sight too as Boston fans held their breaths while watching Celtic players carry their team captain off the floor and back into the locker room.

As expected, the Los Angeles Lakers took advantage, coming up with a four-point lead as soon as Pierce went out. A few minutes later, everybody was standing and applauding as Pierce went back to the court jumping up and down like an eight-year-old kid on Christmas morning.

Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen couldn’t be any happier to see their guy back.

Pierce came back shooting, taking back the four points his team conceded before fueling his team to take their own four-point advantage after he came up with back-to-back three-pointers in merely 22 seconds. Heck, Pierce was simply on fire, much to the dismay of Kobe Bryant, the Lakers and their fans watching the game from Los Angeles.

‘’When I came down I thought I felt a pop, I thought I tore it,'’ Paul Pierce said.

‘’When I got in the back I could put some weight on it. I knew I needed to be out there for my team.'’

Ray Allen scored 19 points with Kevin Garnett leading the Celtics offensively and defensively with his team-high 24 points, 13 rebounds and 3 assists. However, the night belonged to Paul Pierce and his emotional comeback. His 22 points sure came in handy for Boston’s Game 1 win but his leadership was simply, priceless.

Can the Boston Celtics win the 2008 NBA title or will the Los Angeles Lakers win their return to the NBA Finals? Bodog sportsbook has the odds.

Boston Celtics 2.65

Los Angeles Lakers 1.53

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Boston Celtics Los Angeles Lakers