(CNN) -- Defending champions the L.A. Lakers are hoping to bounce back in the third game of the NBA finals series after suffering a first home defeat since the end of last season, losing 103-94 to the Boston Celtics on Sunday night.
"No doubt it's a blow to lose the home-court, but we anticipated this might happen," L.A. coach Phil Jackson told the Lakers' official Web site after the Celtics leveled the best-of-seven series at 1-1. "We're just going to have to go pick it up".
The Lakers recorded an impressive home victory in the first game on Thursday night, but the Californians could not follow that up as they lost at home for the first time since last season's Western Conference playoff finals.
The next three matches of the series will take place in Boston, with the East Coast team hoping to use their advantage to reclaim the title they last won back in 2008.
In what was a close second-round match, Ray Allen scored 27 of his 32 points in the first half of the game and achieved a record eight three-pointers to help the Celtics to victory.
