"Nate Robinson is the Celtics' little-used backup guard -- "little" being the apt term for his height (5-feet-9) and playing time, which hasn't been more than 13 minutes this postseason.

He's also their occasional spark, ignited every so often, namely Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals when he provided 13 points off the bench in the series clincher that sent the Celtics to the Finals.

On Sunday night in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, a 103-94 Celtics win, Robinson caught fire again, giving his team seven points in just six minutes during a tight fourth quarter.

He started the fourth with the score tied, 72-72, and replaced point guard Rajon Rondo, who had played all 36 minutes to that point and was "exhausted," according to Celtics Coach Doc Rivers.

"Yeah, I needed it," Rondo said of a breather.

At the 8-minute, 59-second mark, Robinson pulled up for a three-pointer at the top of the key that gave the Celtics the lead, 81-80. A steal by fellow Celtics guard Tony Allen on the other end led to a fast-break Robinson layup on the break 24 seconds later.

A few minutes later, he was fouled by Lakers center Andrew Bynum and converted two free throws.

Rondo replaced Robinson shortly thereafter, and continued his own brilliant night -- which ended in a 19-point, 12-rebound, 10-assist triple double -- but the spark had struck again.

"I thought the seven or six minutes that Nate Robinson played for us was huge," Rivers said.

Said Rondo: "Nate played great. It's the second time he's done that this year. He was ready when his name was called.""