BOSTON -- These are not the Boston Celtics that Rajon Rondo left behind almost a year ago, a roster of All-Stars just a couple of seasons removed from their second trip to the NBA Finals in three years. His pinpoint passes went for naught. The defence that helped the franchise win it all in 2008 was missing. Needing a big play in the final seconds, the best option Rondo could come up with was himself. Rondo returned from a knee injury and missed a 3-pointer that could have sent the game into overtime, sending the Los Angeles Lakers to a 107-104 victory on Friday night. "I thought he made a lot of plays down the stretch," Celtics coach Brad Stevens said after seeing his All-Star point guard in a game for the first time. "Just came up a little bit short. But I was glad he had the ball." Pau Gasol had 24 points and 13 rebounds for Los Angeles, and Kendall Marshall added 19 points and 14 assists, including a 3-pointer with 69 seconds left to give the Lakers their first lead of the second half. Ryan Kelly scored 20 points and Wesley Johnson added 11 points and 11 rebounds. "It was an incredible experience for me," said Kelly, who added a pair of free throws with 9.4 seconds remaining as the Lakers snapped a six-game losing streak. "We were sliding there a little bit. We needed it and we made the plays that made the difference." Kelly Olynyk scored a career-high 25 points for Boston. Rondo, who was limited to 20 minutes in his first game since tearing his right anterior cruciate ligament on Jan. 25, 2013, had eight points, four assists and two rebounds. The Celtics missed their last seven shots while giving up 11 points in a row -- including three straight 3-pointers. "We missed some shots in the fourth quarter, but weve got to do it defensively," said Rondo, who was announced as the team captain before the game. "I found out when you found out," he said. "It really didnt hit me at first. After I came back to the huddle, a couple of guys told me congrats on being named captain. Its definitely an honour." The Celtics led by as many as 13 points in the second quarter and still held a 97-94 advantage when Rondo, who played about five minutes each quarter, checked back in with 4:53 left. Olynyk soon made a jumper from the top of the key and then Rondo hit Avery Bradley for a 3-pointer on the wing to extend the lead to eight points. It was 104-96 when Johnson made a 3-pointer, and then two offensive rebounds gave the Celtics three tries to score, but they came away with nothing. Jodie Meeks made a 3-pointer to make it a two-point game, and then Marshall made one to give the Lakers the lead. With Rondo bringing the ball down, the crowd rose to its feet. But the four-time All-Star back-rimmed a long shot. The Lakers were forced into a shot-clock violation, but Bradley missed a runner. Boston forced a jump ball -- and then a rejump when the tip went out of bounds -- but Johnson got it to Kelly, who was fouled. The free throws left the Celtics with a three-point deficit and less than 10 seconds. The crowd worked itself into a "Beat L.A.!" chant. Rondo dribbled the clock down and was left alone for a 3-pointer, but it missed badly, and in the scramble for the rebound the buzzer went off. "At the end we did a better job. We still have to do better," Lakers coach Mike DAntoni said. "Lets not get carried away. It is one night and lets see if we can repeat it." The longstanding rivalry between Boston and Los Angeles has lost some of its lustre with the rest of Bostons New Big Three gone and Lakers star Kobe Bryant recovering from a broken bone in his left knee. In fact, the Celtics and Lakers had never been this bad when they faced each other: According to the Elias Sports Bureau, their combined winning percentage of .354 (28-51) was the lowest ever for the longtime rivals in a head-to-head matchup (after the first five games of the season). Whats worse, the Lakers had won only one game since the weekend before Christmas, and Boston had won just two. NOTES: The Celtics signed G-F Chris Johnson to a 10-day contract. He did not play. ... The game marked the arrival of Joel Anthony, who was acquired by Boston from the Miami Heat in a three-team trade on Wednesday. He did not play. ... Bryant missed his 15th consecutive game for the Lakers with a left knee fracture. He did make the trip -- and popped in on a Boston College marketing class on Thursday night. Fake Soccer Jerseys . The Brazilian-born strikers brace drew him level with Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo as the leagues leading scorers with 17 goals apiece through 16 rounds. "The important thing is to help the team win, not the goals," Diego Costa said. After a first half dominated by defence, Atletico pressed Valencia into its area and Diego Costa did the rest. Cheap Soccer Jerseys .com) - The Ottawa Senators will try to keep their slim playoff hopes alive when they face the Chicago Blackhawks who are trying to secure their place in the post-season. https://www.soccerjerseyschina.us/. "Win basketball games," Collins said. He will get at least a few more chances. Collins played the final minutes of a winning home debut with the Brooklyn Nets, who cooled off the Chicago Bulls with a 96-80 victory Monday night. Soccer Jerseys China .com) - Oklahoma quarterback Trevor Knight was carted off the field in the fourth quarter of 16th-ranked Sooners 48-14 loss to No. Soccer Jerseys Outlet .J. -- Kevin Gilbride retired Thursday as offensive co-ordinator for the New York Giants. VIRGINIA WATER, England -- Shane Lowry birdied his closing two holes for a 2-under 70 Friday to join Thomas Bjorn in the lead after the second round of the BMW PGA Championship. Lowry overcame a double bogey on the ninth hole by making four birdies on his back nine to erase a two-shot deficit to Bjorn, who carded a 72 on a day of intermittent rain showers. The duo was four shots clear of the field with 10-under totals of 134. Spains Rafa Cabrera-Bello (73) and former BMW PGA winner Luke Donald (67) were tied for third. Rory McIlroy was another shot back along with Swedish duo Jonas Blixt and Henrik Stenson after all three carded 71. The 27-year old Lowry won the 2009 Irish Open in a playoff as an amateur, and then added the 2012 Portugal Masters title after turning professional. This, though, would be by far the biggest win of his career. "I just have to go out and keep doing what I have been doing," the 142nd-ranked Irishman said. "Ive got my coach with me this week, so hes quite good at getting me ready to play no matter what situation Im in. And it will be good to go out with Thomas tomorrow and see how I get on." Bjorn led by two shots after the first round of the European Tours flagship event, but found that advantage gone with bogeys at the first and sevennth holes.dddddddddddd But Bjorn birdied his 15th and final holes minutes before Lowry birdied 17 and the last to finish tied for the lead with the Dane. "Well go out and work hard on the weekend and see what the conditions are like and try and play the golf course and not the opponents," Bjorn said. "Theres two very hard days ahead of us, so we know what this championship is all about. " Defending champion Matteo Manassero missed the cut after following up an 80 with a 71. McIlroy fought back from double bogey on the seventh hole, which he eagled the day before, to stay in contention. McIlroy finished much better than he started, as he eagled the par-five 12th for a second straight day, and birdied three of his last four holes. "The way the conditions were this morning, being 3-over par after seven wasnt all that bad, and it wasnt disastrous," he said. Blixt, the Masters runner-up, is eyeing his maiden European Tour victory. "My golf hasnt been too great but I kind of saved myself a couple of times, hitting some really good shots," Blixt said. "I dont think now with the rain settling in that anyone is going to run away with it. "But I cant remember the last time I played wearing so much clothing. It became really cold out there." ' ' '