Bryant scores 30 in Lakers’ Game 1 win

LOS ANGELES

Kobe Bryant scored 30 points, Pau Gasol had 23 points and 14 rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers got tough in a 102-89 victory over the Boston Celtics in the NBA finals opener Thursday night.

Ron Artest scored 15 points after tumbling to the ground in a tangle with Paul Pierce in the opening minute of the 12th finals meeting in the NBA’s most scintillating rivalry.

Bryant led a gritty physical effort against the Celtics, who memorably pushed around the Lakers while winning their 2008 finals matchup in six games.

Pierce scored 24 points for the Celtics, who might not want to know Lakers coach Phil Jackson’s teams in Los Angeles and Chicago have won 47 straight playoff series after winning Game 1.

Game 2 is Sunday night.

After two quarters, Bryant scored 12 points despite foul trouble, Gasol added 11 points and seven rebounds, and the Lakers took a 50-41 lead.

The 12th finals meeting between the NBA’s most entertaining rivals opened with a chippy, rough-edged first half featuring 28 fouls and 27 free throws.

Both teams seemed determined to get a physical edge early in the series, starting just 27 seconds in when Artest and Pierce got double technical fouls after tumbling to the court with elbows locked.

Bryant picked up two early fouls, but still led four Lakers starters who scored at least seven points.

Rajon Rondo led the Celtics with 10 points at halftime, and Pierce added nine. Rondo’s latest productive offensive game included four assists and helped cover up for combined 5-for-14 shooting by Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, who picked up three fouls.

Boston and Los Angeles are meeting in the finals for the second time in three years, following the Celtics’ six-game victory over the Lakers in 2008.

If the first 24 minutes of the rematch are any indication, the series will be a knockdown, drag-out physical confrontation — and the supposedly finesse-oriented Lakers held their ground early.

Boston had homecourt advantage in the clubs’ 2008 meeting. This time, the Celtics will have to win at least once at Staples Center, where the Lakers went 8-0 in the first three rounds and have won 11 straight playoff games since last season’s Western Conference finals.