Lakers Hand Thunder First Playoff Loss, Trail Series 2-1
2012 NBA Playoffs
Los Angeles, CA
Kobe Bryant once again carried his team by scoring eight of Lakers' final 10 points, helping Los Angeles get back in the series with a 99-96 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 3 at Staples Center.
Bryant finished with 36 points, but made up for a 9-of-25 shooting by making all 18 of his free throws, and the Lakers now trail this Western Conference semifinals 2-1.
Struggling to find his range, Bryant willed his team to win by making huge shots and hitting clutch free throws. Bryant, who also had seven boards and six assists, aggressively attacked the basket, which resulted in 18 successful trips to the charity line.
Bryant, who scored 14 in the decisive fourth, made six free throws in the final 1:08 of the period, including the final pair with 9.8 seconds remaining for the final margin.
The Lakers, who were blown out in the series opener and fell in Game 2 despite holding a lead in the final minutes, were nearly perfect from the charity stripes as they finished 41-of-42.
Andrew Bynum also struggled on the floor on a 2-of-13 shooting, but asserted his defensive presence all night in the paint and challenging shooters on perimeters. He finished with 15 points and 11 boards.
Pau Gasol chipped in 12 markers and 11 boards, while Steve Blake, who missed a potential game-winning three-pointer in Game 2, was 4-of-5 from the floor and 2 for 2 from 3-point range for 12 points.
The Lakers roared out from the gate with a 16-4 lead in the first. They took a 50-47 lead into intermission following a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Metta World Peace, who finished with 10 points.
The Thunder started to regain some momentum in the third frame and surged ahead by as much as seven with three minutes remaining in the period.
James Harden, who scored 21 points, sparked a 7-0 burst that gave the Thunder their largest lead in the fourth stanza, 83-78.
The Lakers were unfazed and took control down the stretch, with the contest decided at the foul line. Los Angeles outscored the Thunder 12-4 down the stretch.
Kevin Durant finished with 31 points on 12-of-23 shooting from the floor. He had some huge baskets in the fourth to help keep Oklahoma City ahead, but missed a potential tying 3-pointer on the game's final possession.
The Thunder, poised to moved to the brink of their second straight trip to the Western Conference finals, suffered their first setback of this postseason after sweeping the defending NBA-champion Dallas Mavericks in the first round.
Hear from the Lakers after their Game 3 win over the Thunder:
Lakers Hand Thunder First Playoff Loss, Trail Series 2-1
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