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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. Boston Celtics Store .C. -- The shot that would have beaten No. Tom Heinsohn Jersey . Orlando is to begin play in the MLS for the 2015 season. 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The 31-year-old dangerman set up two goals and scored two himself as Toronto FC rallied from a 2-0 deficit to defeat the slumping Houston Dynamo 4-2 on Saturday night.WASHINGTON - Alex Ovechkin has made a career out of scoring crucial goals for the Washington Capitals, and he did once more Monday night.Ovechkin scored a tiebreaking power-play goal late in the second period to help the Washington Capitals beat the Colorado Avalanche 2-1.I was just saying I didnt think (Alex) was particularly good for (his) standards today.missing the net a little bit, fumbling pucks, Washington coach Barry Trotz said. But who scores the winning goal? Alex Ovechkin.Jay Beagle also scored and Braden Holtby stopped 31 shots to earn his 21st victory for the Capitals, who improved to 13-1-4 in the last 18 games. Theyve also won six straight at home, their longest home win streak in two seasons.Holtby, who made his 19th straight start and has appeared in 25 consecutive games, had 18 saves in the third period to preserve the win.Alex Tanguay scored for the Avalanche, and Semyon Varlamov finished with 36 saves. Colorado snapped a three-game winning streak.Ovechkin snapped a shot past Varlamov from left circle after passes from Troy Brouwer and Nicklas Backstrom with 2:14 left in the second period. It was Ovechkins 74th game-winning goal, moving him past Peter Bondra for first place in franchise history. Ovechkin also now has scored a goal in six of his last seven games.When we play our game, we play the system. ... its very hard to play against (us), Ovechkin said. When we play the system, play smart (defence), were going to get our chances.Washington was on the power play due to a roughing call on Varlamov.The Capitals came up with many scoring chances but had problems beating formmer teammate Varlamov.dddddddddddd He made 19 saves in the second period alone.I still have lots of memories, Varlamov said. (Washington) was my first team, and they gave me a chance to play in the NHL, so its really fun to play here.The Capitals got another strong effort from Holtby, especially during the third period when Colorado kept the pressure on and outshot Washington 18-6.They have a ton of speed, a ton of skill, Holtby said. I thought we gave up a few shots, but I dont think we panicked in that situation, and that was the difference.Beagle gave the Capitals the early lead when scored on a backhand shot 7:34 into the first period. Washingtons win improved their mark to 22-1-3 when scoring first.Colorado tied it on Tanguays power-play goal with 9:02 left in the second period. Washington held a 20-7 edge in shots in that period before the Avalanche made its big push in the third.Obviously, we were not happy about the second, Colorado coach Patrick Roy said. But the third period, I thought we bounced (back). We had a solid third, and we unfortunately had some bounces that didnt go our way.NOTES: The Capitals recalled G Justin Peters from Hershey of the AHL and re-assigned goalie Pheonix Copley there on Monday. Peters hasnt played since Nov. 29, and he played twice with the Bears this weekend. ... D Nate Schmidt also went to Hershey during the weekend for playing time, but he suffered a scapular fracture (shoulder blade) which could sideline him for six to eight weeks. ... Varlamov was named the NHLs second star of the week Monday. He was 3-0-0 with one shutout last week. ' ' '