The NBA Finals resume on Tuesday night with the Boston Celtics holding a comfortable 2-0 series lead over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Even with a big series lead, the Celtics will be in tough Tuesday night at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and oddsmakers have given the Lakers a mighty task of covering 9.5 points.

In Game 2 on Sunday Boston got all it needed from their Big Three in a 108-102 victory. Despite playing at home the Celtics were a 1-point underdog in the game and of course covered the point spread in the outright victory.

Paul Pierce scored 28 points and had eight assists to lead the Celtics, while Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen each deposited 17 points. Garnett also delivered 14 rebounds in the win. A surprising source of points was Leon Powe, who netted 21 points off the bench after averaging only 4.7 points through the postseason.

Kobe Bryant scored a game-high 30 points for the Lakers in the loss and Pau Gasol added 17 points and 10 rebounds. The Lakers' biggest flaw in the loss was foul trouble. Los Angeles didn't have a problem at the free-throw line, making all 10 of their free shots.

The problem was that they sent Boston to the charity stripe 38 times, almost four times more than the Lakers. Los Angeles coach Phil Jackson made a point of highlighting the large discrepancy in free throws after the game, and said he expects more even officiating back in Los Angeles.

Whether it was bad officiating or not, the Lakers will need to avoid sending the Celtics to the line as often in Game 3 to bounce back in the series.

Heading back to Los Angeles should boost the Lakers' confidence, considering they are 8-0 at the Staples Centers during their playoff run. They should also feel good about Boston's lackluster 2-7 record away from TD Banknorth Garden in the postseason.

The oddsmakers at expect a significant change in the series back in L.A., setting the Lakers as a 9.5-point favorite.