In game one and two of the series, Kobe Bryant proved difficult to guard for the Thunder. In Game 3, the Thunder, led by Kevin Durant, got their first series win even with Kobe Bryant breaking the Los Angeles Lakers' career record for scoring in the playoffs that was previously held by Jerry West.
Bryant passed Jerry West's mark of 4,457 postseason points with a 16-foot jumper. Bryant ended the night with 24 points, which weren't enough to help the Lakers past the Thunder. Oklahoma City beat Los Angeles 101-96 to cut the Lakers' series lead to 2-1.
Durant who at 21 became the youngest player to lead the NBA in scoring, finished the night with 29 points and 19 rebounds.
"Scoring's a big part of my game. It kind of overshadows the other parts of my game," said Durant "But if I continue to play hard on both ends, it's going to come around for me. I was able to get free and make a couple shots, and that's what got us going."
Kobe went 2 for 10 in the final 12 minutes, with Durant stopping between free throws at one point to motion to the bench that he wanted to guard the former MVP.
"It was a matchup that caught me by surprise," said Bryant, who's nearly half a foot shorter than Durant. "I think he did a great job."
Gasol had a 17-point, 15-rebounds for the Lakers, Derek Fisher added 17 points and Andrew Bynum scored 13 points.
The Lakers will need to bounce back on Saturday evening for game four in Oklahoma.
With Kobe Bryant playing with a broken finger, sore knee and bum ankle he still scored 39 points. The Black Mamba carried the Lakers in the fourth quarter, and Los Angeles beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 95-92 on Tuesday night to take a 2-0 lead in their Western Conference playoff series.
"My free throws felt good," Bryant said. "I put in a lot, a lot of work over the last month fine-tuning my stroke and trying to get it back to being consistent."
Gasol had 25 points and 12 rebounds, and Bynum six points.
Game 3 is Thursday in Oklahoma City and with the playoff's being a best-of-seven series it's going to be good.
"That place is going to be rocking and rolling," Bryant said. "The last time we were there they did a number on us."
Continue reading
Andrew Bynum got the Staples Center crowd to their feet with a killer one-handed dunk over Nenad Krstic in the Los Angeles Lakers' 87-79 victory against the Oklahoma City Thunder in their playoff series opener Sunday.
"It kind of got me going," Bynum said. "It hyped the team up. That's the kind of player I can be -- exciting."
After missing four of the final five regular season games to rest his swollen right knee and broken right index finger, Kobe Bryant had 21 points on 6-of-19 shooting and Gasol scored 19 points, with Bynum adding 13.
"We could've definitely played a lot better, but at this stage you just got to win games," Bryant said. "It doesn't really matter how."
Kevin Durant led the Thunder with 24 points on 7-of-24 shooting in his playoff debut.
"I was frustrated," said Durant, who tossed up some airballs and went 9 of 11 from the line. "I was missing shots I normally make. They felt good leaving my hand. If I made 4-5 more shots, maybe it's a different game."
The Lakers were on fire against the Thunder, pounding the ball to Bynum and Gasol while shooting 54 percent. The Lakers took a 27-13 lead in the first quarter.
"They really play off each other, take their time and shoot a high field-goal percentage," Lamar Odom said. "They make the game easy for us as a team."
Bryant and Odom hit back to back 3-pointers, extending the lead the Lakers held the entire game to 77-66.
Game 2 in the best-of-7 series is Tuesday at Staples Center.
Continue reading
Lakers will face the Oklahoma Thunder in game one of the playoffs this Sunday at the Staples Center. Kevin Durant couldn't have asked for a better team to play against when making his playoff debut. Bryant has sat out four of the final five games to rest his swollen right knee and a broken index finger. But he said the time off has revived him.
Along with the Lakers having home court advantage for game one and two, Kobe will be wearing the Zoom V - Playoff edition.
Continue reading
April 23, 2010
Lakers will face the Oklahoma Thunder in game one of the playoffs this Sunday at the Staples Center. Kevin Durant couldn't have asked for a better team to play against when making his playoff debut. Bryant has sat out four of the final five games to rest his swollen right knee and a broken index finger. But he said the time off has revived him.
Along with the Lakers having home court advantage for game one and two, Kobe will be wearing the Zoom V - Playoff edition.
Continue reading