No, the Lakers' primary objective in their 92-83 victory was much simpler.

They were determined to recapture the defensive focus and intensity that had been their mantra earlier in the season.

That turned out to be the foundation upon for which the Lakers relied. The much-anticipated Christmas Day showdown between the two teams that many forecast will meet again in the Finals, went the Lakers' way as a defensive lockup of the Celtics and a 13-2 closing run by the Lakers spelled victory.

Kobe Bryant scored a game-high 27 points for the Lakers. Pau Gasol had 20.

It was just one game and one victory, but it was a statement the Lakers believed needed to be made against a team that has the NBA's best record.

"We're very confident," forward Trevor Ariza said. "We think that we can compete with anybody. This definitely helped. But we have a bunch more games. We're not going to let this game define our season."

During its franchise-record 19-game winning streak, Boston as a team shot 51.1 percent from the field. But the Lakers forced the Celtics into 46.8 percent field-goal shooting on Thursday, which included just 5 of 22 shots made from outside the 3-point arc.

Boston's forays to the rim were met with great resistance. The Lakers blocked nine shots.

Boston's Kevin Garnett didn't miss a shot until the third quarter and finished with 22 points, on 11-of-14 shooting from the field. Paul Pierce made 7 of 13 field goal tries for his 20 points. But guards Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo were harassed into a combined 8 of 25 from the field.

"I thought out defense was very good down the stretch," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "We did some good things. We forced some turnovers."

Along with that, Jackson believed that the Lakers' ability to stay out of foul trouble was instrumental. Center Andrew Bynum, who has had problems in that area, was called for just two fouls.

"I think this was a step in the right direction for us," said Bynum, whose nine points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots in 35 1/2 minutes underscores the contribution he made. Bynum did not play against the Celtics in the Finals last spring because he was recuperating from a knee injury.

The score was tied at 81 when extra Celtics defenders hounded Bryant as he searched for a crease. Gasol sprang open twice on back-to-back possessions. He sank a 15-foot jumper on the first, then scored on a jump hook on the second to give the Lakers an 85-81 lead.

Then, after Garnett sliced the Lakers' lead to two, the Bryant-Gasol collaboration struck again. Bryant found Gasol open in the lane and Gasol laid the ball in the basket while being fouled by Pierce. The three-point play gave the Lakers an 88-83 lead.

"To do that against Boston is big," Lakers forward Luke Walton said, "because they're one of the best closing teams in the league. It shows the ability that our team has."

NOTES

The victory was the 1,000th in Jackson's coaching career, and he reached that milestone in his 1,423 game, becoming the fastest coach in NBA history to reach that landmark. ...

Both the Lakers and Celtics were so intent on boxing out on the defensive boards that neither team grabbed an offensive rebound in the first quarter.

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Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24), who had a team-high 27 points, scores against Boston's Kevin Garnett (5) on Thursday at Staples Center. The Lakers defeated the Celtics, 92-83.