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Lakers recover to steal Oklahoma's Thunder in LA
Source: Agencies |
December 24, 2009, Thursday
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KOBE Bryant scored 40 points and shook off a knee scare to help the Los Angeles Lakers survive a nail-biting finish and defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder 111-108 on Tuesday.
With the Thunder pressing late in the fourth quarter, the Lakers made six consecutive free throws in the final 90 seconds and breathed a collective sigh of relief when Russell Westbrook missed a potential game-tying three-pointer in the final seconds.
All-Star guard Bryant was among six Lakers to score in double figures, and added eight rebounds and six assists. He also survived a scare when he came down awkwardly on his left knee late in the fourth.
"I was scared. I did a lot of work with my flexibility and was able to bounce back but it was still scary," Bryant told reporters.
"We made adjustments after the first half, it's really about grinding it out and winning games."
Elsewhere in the National Basketball Association, it was: Trail Blazers 85, Mavericks 81; Bobcats 88, Pistons 76; Wizards 105, 76ers 98; Knicks 88, Bulls 81; Celtics 103, Pacers 94; Grizzlies 121, Warriors 108; Hawks 112, Timberwolves 87; and Rockets 108, Clippers 99.
In Los Angeles, Kevin Durant scored a team-high 30 points and Westbrook added 21 and 13 assists (13-14) for the Thunder, who slumped to their fifth loss in six games.
The league-leading Lakers (23-4) got off to a slow start in their first game back at home following a five-game road trip.
Defense stiffened
They trailed by 12 in the second quarter and were down by seven at halftime before their defense stiffened to capture the 16th win in their last 17 contests.
"Just getting ourselves back into the flow (after the road trip) took some time," said Los Angeles coach Phil Jackson. "Oklahoma had been in LA longer than we were. Fortunately we had a good third quarter and played the way we anticipated we should."
Derek Fisher finished with a trio of three-pointers and 15 points while Pau Gasol added 15 and 11 rebounds for the Lakers.
It was the Thunder's 12th consecutive loss to Los Angeles.
In Dallas, the Portland Trail Blazers finished over the top of the Mavericks to win the clash of two of the top teams in the Western Conference.
Brandon Roy scored 23 points and LaMarcus Aldridge added 19 points and 12 rebounds for Portland.
Dallas held a six-point lead early in the fourth but Portland came back with a 17-3 run that began and ended with three-pointers from Steve Blake, taking an eight-point advantage with 3:48 left.
Dirk Nowitzki's three with 1:16 to go pulled Dallas within two points and the Mavericks had a shot to tie it, but Nowitzki's 17-footer rimmed out with 40 seconds to play.
Andre Miller's two free throws with 6.5 seconds remaining sealed the Blazers' victory.
Nowitzki had 27 points and nine rebounds in his return from an elbow injury and J J Barea added 22 points for the Mavericks.
With the Thunder pressing late in the fourth quarter, the Lakers made six consecutive free throws in the final 90 seconds and breathed a collective sigh of relief when Russell Westbrook missed a potential game-tying three-pointer in the final seconds.
All-Star guard Bryant was among six Lakers to score in double figures, and added eight rebounds and six assists. He also survived a scare when he came down awkwardly on his left knee late in the fourth.
"I was scared. I did a lot of work with my flexibility and was able to bounce back but it was still scary," Bryant told reporters.
"We made adjustments after the first half, it's really about grinding it out and winning games."
Elsewhere in the National Basketball Association, it was: Trail Blazers 85, Mavericks 81; Bobcats 88, Pistons 76; Wizards 105, 76ers 98; Knicks 88, Bulls 81; Celtics 103, Pacers 94; Grizzlies 121, Warriors 108; Hawks 112, Timberwolves 87; and Rockets 108, Clippers 99.
In Los Angeles, Kevin Durant scored a team-high 30 points and Westbrook added 21 and 13 assists (13-14) for the Thunder, who slumped to their fifth loss in six games.
The league-leading Lakers (23-4) got off to a slow start in their first game back at home following a five-game road trip.
Defense stiffened
They trailed by 12 in the second quarter and were down by seven at halftime before their defense stiffened to capture the 16th win in their last 17 contests.
"Just getting ourselves back into the flow (after the road trip) took some time," said Los Angeles coach Phil Jackson. "Oklahoma had been in LA longer than we were. Fortunately we had a good third quarter and played the way we anticipated we should."
Derek Fisher finished with a trio of three-pointers and 15 points while Pau Gasol added 15 and 11 rebounds for the Lakers.
It was the Thunder's 12th consecutive loss to Los Angeles.
In Dallas, the Portland Trail Blazers finished over the top of the Mavericks to win the clash of two of the top teams in the Western Conference.
Brandon Roy scored 23 points and LaMarcus Aldridge added 19 points and 12 rebounds for Portland.
Dallas held a six-point lead early in the fourth but Portland came back with a 17-3 run that began and ended with three-pointers from Steve Blake, taking an eight-point advantage with 3:48 left.
Dirk Nowitzki's three with 1:16 to go pulled Dallas within two points and the Mavericks had a shot to tie it, but Nowitzki's 17-footer rimmed out with 40 seconds to play.
Andre Miller's two free throws with 6.5 seconds remaining sealed the Blazers' victory.
Nowitzki had 27 points and nine rebounds in his return from an elbow injury and J J Barea added 22 points for the Mavericks.
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