Boston, MA -- (Sports Network) - Boston's big three started the season with high hopes and finished with the Celtics' 17th championship in their storied franchise history with a record-setting performance.

Kevin Garnett scored 26 points and pulled down 14 rebounds, as the Celtics pounded the Los Angeles Lakers, 131-92, in Game 6 of the NBA Finals.

Ray Allen overcame an eye injury and tied a Finals record by hitting seven shots from beyond the arc, on the way to 26 points, and Paul Pierce, the third in the monumental trio, hit for 17 points and dished out 10 assists.

"This is just an unbelievable experience," Pierce said. "If you're going to win a championship, you want to win one with the Boston Celtics."

Rajon Rondo had a solid all-around performance to cap his second season in the league with 21 points, seven rebounds and eight assists. He also had six of Boston's Finals-record 18 steals, as Boston wrapped up its first NBA title since 1986 and did it in probably the most memorable rivalry in league history. Boston has played the Lakers in the Finals 11 times, winning nine of those matchups.

Garnett and Allen joined Pierce prior to the season and immediately there were huge expectations. The trio, who until this year had never played in a Finals contest, had a signature moment, coming out of the game together with 4:01 left.

"It just seemed like it was camaraderie from day one," Pierce said. "From the time Ray was traded, talking to him, from the time Kevin was traded, talking to him...this is all we talked about."

With the capacity crowd at TD Banknorth Garden chanting "17!, 17!" in the concluding minutes, Celtics head coach Doc Rivers hugged his players and was then the recipient of a celebratory bath of punch dumped over him by Pierce, who was then named the Finals MVP.

"This is unreal," Pierce said during a center court ceremony to honor the champs. "Where we came from a year ago, where I was at...to be here today and celebrating with my teammates...what a great year it was this year."

Allen, who left the game in the opening quarter after being poked in his left eye, but returned in the second, finished the Finals with a record in three- pointers made with 22. He was 8-of-12 from the field, including 7-of-9 from three-point range Tuesday.

The performance from Allen was incredible from the standpoint that he traveled overnight to Boston after remaining in Los Angeles an extra day to be with his toddler son, who was diagnosed with diabetes.

"We have a great balance here in this lineup," Allen said. "It seemed everything worked out all year. We respect each other. We're here sitting on championship 17. Thank you Boston!"

The Celtics, who had just 24 wins all of last season, completed the greatest turnaround in league history with 66 victories this year and capped it with one of the most dominating performances in Finals history. Only Chicago's 42- point win (96-54) over Utah in 1998 was a larger margin of victory in the Finals.

"Other than my kid being born, this has to be the happiest day of my life right now," Garnett said. "I'm going to be hoarse. I don't plan on sleeping for a week, months. If you're all looking for me, personal friends, my phone number is about to change."

Kobe Bryant had 22 points for the Lakers, who staved off elimination with a 103-98 victory Sunday night, only to fly across the country and get blown out to cap their first Finals appearance since 2004. They were trying to become the first team in Finals history to rally from a 3-1 deficit to become champions.

"I think everybody's disappointed we didn't get a game out of this and give ourselves a chance," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said.

Allen left the game with 4 1/2 minutes remaining in the first quarter after being poked in his left eye and scratched on the nose. He was driving from the right baseline to the basket and hit a layup, but on the way up he was hit in the eye by the Lakers' Lamar Odom. Allen went to his knees in pain under the basket after the layup. He then jogged off the court to the locker room to be examined.

Allen returned to the bench with 6:05 left in the half and came back in the game with 4:44 remaining with Boston up, 43-31.

The Celtics arrived in Boston Monday night at 11 p.m. due to airplane mechanical problems, but showed little fatigue, keeping up with the Lakers and then widening their lead with 11 straight points during the second quarter.

Pau Gasol's inside bucket had the Lakers within 32-29 with just under eight minutes left in the half.

Boston then used the long range shot to expand its lead, as James Posey and Eddie House hit consecutive three-pointers from the left corner for a 38-29 advantage with 6 1/2 minutes left in the half.

After House hit two free throws, Posey drilled another three-pointer.

Garnett had the most incredible shot of the half and possibly the series, getting fouled in the lane and using his right hand to bang the ball off the glass and in. It turned into a three-point play with 47.3 seconds left in the half and the Celtics owned a 58-35 cushion at the break.

Unlike Game 2, when Boston nearly blew a 24-point lead before winning, the Celtics came out of the locker room aggressive, surging to a 65-39 lead following two free throws from P.J. Brown.

Allen hit a pair of three-pointers during the third, and the Lakers looked lethargic, with the Celtics getting to a majority of the loose balls, forcing 19 turnovers on the night.

Rondo's driving layup and Brown's jumper in the final minute provided an 89-60 cushion going into the fourth.

Bryant was held scoreless in the last quarter, and Allen became the inspirational finisher, nailing three consecutive shots from beyond the arc, as the lead widened to 104-70 with 8:41 remaining.

After starting hot, Bryant missed 14 of his final 17 shots.

"It's tough," Bryant said. "Whether it's first round, second round, Finals, it a loss and it's pretty bitter right now."

Garnett's inside presence resulted in him scoring eight straight Boston points, with the final bucket in the run pushing the Celtics' lead to 22-18. Pierce's jumper provided the 24-20 margin after 12 minutes.

Game Notes:

Odom had 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Jordan Farmar scored 12 and Gasol 11...Bryant was 7-of-22 from the field...The Celtics hit half of their 26 three-point shots...The previous record for most steals in a Finals game was 17, set by Golden State in 1975 against Washington...The old mark for most three-pointers made in a series was 17, set by Phoenix's Dan Majerle in 1993 and New York's Derek Harper a year later...Kendrick Perkins started the game for Boston despite a strained left shoulder he suffered in Game 4, an injury that forced him out of Game 5. Rivers inserted 6-foot-9 rookie forward Glen Davis into the game in the second quarter, his first appearance in the Finals...Posey had 11 points for Boston, which held a 48-29 rebounding advantage...Houston's Kenny Smith (1995 vs. Orlando) and Chicago's Scottie Pippen (1997 vs. Utah) also had seven threes in a Finals game...The Celtics finished 13-1 at home in the playoffs...Because of the loss Jackson remained at nine NBA championships, still tied with Celtics legend Red Auerbach.