Game stories

-- The Times' Mike Bresnahan highlights how Lakers guard Derek Fisher made big shots when it counted in the Lakers' 91-84 Game 3 victory Tuesday over the Boston Celtics.

-- The New York Times' Jonathan Abrams credits Fisher for maintaining his cool late in the game.

--The Boston Globe's Julian Benbow argues Fisher's coast-to-coast layup served as the turning point in the game.

-- Upon further review, the Riverside Press-Enterprise's Matt Calkins calls Fisher "as dangerous as ever."

-- The Orange County Register's Kevin Ding chalks up the Lakers' victory to the team having more desire.

--The Boston Herald's Mark Murphy faults the loss mostly to Ray Allen's poor shooting night.

-- The Daily News' Elliott Teaford also focuses on Fisher's late-game heroics.

Notebooks

--The Boston Herald's Murphy reports Doc Rivers' dissatisfaction with the officiating.

-- The Daily News' Teaford looks at the Lakers' effort to get the ball inside.

Sidebars

-- The Times' Bresnahan explains Lamar Odom's turnaround game.

-- The Times' Lisa Dillman dissects Ray Allen's poor shooting night.

-- The Times' Broderick Turner credits Andrew Bynum for playing through the pain. Turner also details Pau Gasol's contributions.

-- The Times' Baxter Holmes explains why the Celtics' Big Three haven't all fared well in the same game of the NBA playoffs. Holmes also has a medical update on Tony Allen.

--The Boston Globe's Frank Dell’Apa reports Paul Pierce believes the Celtics will bounce back.

--Fox Sports' Mitch Lawrence looks at how Fisher finished the game.

--Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix breaks down the keys to Game 3, and hands out report cards.

-- The Daily News' Jill Painter watches the Lakers game at a bar in Santa Monica where Celtics fans apparently exist. I can only imagine that Lakers fans are already bringing out their flames and pitchforks.

--The Boston Globe's Gary Washburn dissects Allen's game.

Columns

-- The Times' Bill Plaschke believes Fisher added another chapter his legacy.

-- The Times' T.J. Simers says the Celtics stink.

-- The Times' Mark Heisler details Allen's tough shooting night.

-- ESPN.com's J.A. Adande explains what makes Fisher a great leader.

-- The Daily News' Vincent Bonsignore asks Lakers fans to take a deep breath and exhale. Writes Bonsignore: "All is well again with the Lakers. At least for another 24 hours, anyway."

--The Boston Herald's Ron Borges suggests Pierce step it up a notch later in the series.

-- The Orange County Register's Ding explain the positive relationship between Fisher and Bryant.

-- ESPN Boston's Chris Forsberg explains Allen's disappearing act.

--Fox Sports' Jeff Goodman doesn't think the Lakers played well, but it was still good enough to win.

-- ESPN Los Angeles' Arash Markazi believes the Lakers' success hinges on how well Odom plays.

--Sports Illustrated's Jack McCallum argues that fans shouldn't blame the refs for the questionable calls, but, instead, the rules.

-- ESPN Los Angeles' Dave McMenamin credits the team contributions.

-- The Orange County Register's Jeff Miller argues the Lakers should resign Fisher this offseason.

-- The Riverside Press-Enterprise's Gregg Patton argues the Lakers' Game 3 victory could serve as a turning point toward their championship run.

--The Boston Globe's Bob Ryan marvels at Fisher's performance.

--Yahoo! Sports' Dan Wetzel details Allen's frustrations.

-- The Orange County Register's Mark Whicker believes the Lakers' Game 3 win knocked the Celtics down to size.

--Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski captures the emotions of Fisher's big night.

Blogs

--ESPN Los Angeles' Andy and Brian Kamenetzky break down the performance.

--Forum Blue and Gold's Phillip remains impressed with Fisher's clutch shooting.

--Silver Screen and Roll's Josh Tucker believes the NBA needs to fix instant replay.

--Celtics Blog's Jimmy Toscano looks at why Boston's shots didn't fall.

--Lakers.com's Mike Trudell breaks down some numbers.

Tweet of the Day: "Will contract offer for next season be in Fish's locker postgame?" -- KevinDing (Orange County Register Lakers beat reporter Kevin Ding).

Reader Comment of the Day: " My breakfast this morning was crow and it was served on a silver platter. You know what I'm talking about. All season long I bagged on Derek Fisher and urged him to step aside from his starter's role. I was more focused on his aging body than the amazing Heart of a Champion that lurked inside. Before Tuesday's Game 3, that championship heart started beating louder as the playoffs progressed. But I continued to doubt that Fish could go the distance. When I read Plaschke's column that it was time for the Lakers to declare they would bring Fish back next year, I still had doubts. It was only 2 games into the series. Let's wait til the Finals are over, I thought. But in the 4th quarter, I could no longer justify my resistance. Fish didn't just play well, he took over the game. He took over the Lakers' offense. He saw Kobe's legs give out. He recognized that he was the Hope. He delivered. A championship team has multiple guys who can decide a game. Fish became the Decider, not just for a game ending magic bullet. When the tears welled-up in his post-game interview with Doris Burke, all doubt washed away. Kobe's trust in Fish is obviously about more than friendship. They are champions in tandem. A game like we saw last night can easily lead to irrational exhuberance. My heart leads me to hope we can raise the championship trophy on Boston's home court at the end of Game 5. My head still tells me it's Lakers in 6. Whichever it is, the crow consumed this morning will be a dish to be cherished." -- Rick Friedman

-- Mark Medina in Boston
twitter.com/latmedina

E-mail the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com

Photo: Lakers forward Ron Artest, left, forces Boston forward Glen Davis into a turnover during Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Tuesday. Credit: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times.