This time, Lakers survive Celtics’ rally

Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant, right, and Pau Gasol embrace toward the end of Game 5 of the NBA finals. The Lakers won, 103-98, Sunday in Los Angeles.

? Pack up the championship trophy and book a flight back to Boston. The NBA finals aren’t over yet.

The Los Angeles Lakers are headed East to try a historic comeback of their own.

Kobe Bryant scored 25 points, including a decisive dunk in the final minute – and Lamar Odom added 20 as the Lakers, playing with pride on their star-studded stage, prevented the Celtics from winning a 17th title with a 103-98 victory in Game 5 on Sunday night to close to 3-2 in this restored rivalry.

“We’ve won on the road before,” Bryant said. “We’ve played in tough environments.”

The Lakers, who blew a 24-point lead and lost Game 4, nearly squandered a 19-point lead in Game 5.