Just hours after disgraced former referee Tim Donaghy claimed that officials deliberately affected the outcome of key play-off games under instruction from the NBA, the LA Lakers and Boston Celtics did their best to detract from the growing controversy.

The Lakers, inspired by a dominant 36-point display from Kobe Bryant, beat the Celtics 87-81 in a hard-fought and tense, if not particularly attractive, Game Three of the NBA finals to cut their deficit in the best-of-seven series to 2-1.

But events at the Staples Center were overshadowed by court documents in which Donaghy, who faces up to 33 months in prison after admitting wagering on and affecting the outcome of games, made his claims.

Amongst wide-ranging allegations, Donaghy pointed to a 2002 play-off series between the Lakers and Sacramento Kings and a 2005 meeting between the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets as having been deliberately effected by officials, acting on behalf of the league.

NBA Commissioner David Stern, instantly and not without good reason, refuted the allegations, pointing out Donaghy’s lack of credibility, but a long-running series between the two most famous clubs in world basketball would be the perfect antidote to the difficulties created by Donaghy’s outburst.

With Boston holding a 61-56 lead late in the third period, the chances of the series returning to Boston for Games Six and Seven were fading rapidly. However, Bryant imposed his will on the fourth period and Slovenian guard Sasha Vujacic made a crucial three-pointer with just under two minutes left to stretch LA’s lead to 81-76.

Two Bryant baskets in the final 66 seconds took his total to 36 points and were sufficient to seal the win although Vujacic’s courageous and cool shooting - he made his decisive three-pointer shortly after missing a similar shot - was, arguably, the key factor.

“He’s a little bit of a rock head! That’s what we call him,” Phil Jackson, the LA coach, said of Vujacic. “He believes in himself very sincerely, that he’s going to make the next shot. And you have to be that way if you’re going to have the guts to go out there and do it. Sasha is always going to make the next shot. That one might have been off but the next one is going in.”

LA were far more aggressive than they had been on the east coast which helped explain why they they took 34 free-throws to the visitors’ 22 although Celtics coach Phil Jackson used that statistic to continue his simmering war of words with Jackson.

The Lakers coach had complained bitterly about his own team’s lack of free-throw awards in Game Two, prompting Rivers to respond after Game Three: “I’m just surprised he didn’t whine about fouls tonight.”

There were a number of areas which could offer consolation and optimism for the Celtics as they prepare for Thursday’s Game Four, not least the fact that apart from Bryant (36 points) and Vujacic (20), key Lakers such as Spaniard Pau Gasol (9) and Lamar Odom (4) turned in appalling performances. The latter, in particular, has been a complete non-factor throughout the finals.

Boston can also expect far better production from two of their big three players - Kevin Garnett (13) and Paul Pierce (6) - who made just six of their combined 35 shots, although an ankle sprain suffered by point guard Rajon Rondo continues the team’s injury woes in the series.

“Kevin and Paul will be fine,” said Rivers. “We’ll make some adjustments and they’ll be fine. Rajon turned his ankle.”

It was also notable that the LA crowd, packed with celebrities - ranging from David Beckham, through Hollywood faces Jack Nicholson, Dustin Hoffman, Sly Stallone, Eddie Murphy and Steven Spielberg, to Playboy founder Hugh Hefner - was far less passionate and had far less bearing on the game than did their Boston counterparts in the opening two games.

Although not an appropriate comment on this, of all days in the NBA, the smart money remains on Boston to win these finals. But at least Beckham and those celebrity peers are now assured of seeing three games take place in LA this week.