Thunder Steal Game 4 vs Lakers, Take Commanding 3-1 Series Lead
2012 NBA Playoffs
Los Angeles, CA
After suffering their first loss this postseason, the Oklahoma City Thunder bounced back and stole Game 4 with a furious fourth-quarter rally punctuated by a Kevin Durant go-ahead 3-pointer with 13.7 seconds left en route to Oklahoma City's 103-100 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Thunder have a commanding 3-1 lead in this best-of-seven series Western Conference semifinals.
Oklahoma City, which finished Game 4 on a 22-8 run, received 31 points from Durant, who together with Russell Westbrook helped engineer the stirring fourth-quarter rally, finished with 31 points.
Westbrook poured in a team high 37 points on 15-of-26 shooting from the floor. The Thunder's 23-year-old point guard also had five assists, two boards and one steal in 43 minutes of play.
Westbrook, who narrowly missed a double-double Friday, posting 21 points and nine boards in a 99-96 loss in Game 3, scored 10 points as he aggressively attacked the basket in the fourth.
Oklahoma City faced a 13-point deficit with eight minutes left in the final period.
Three-time scoring champ Durant, who kept the Thunder in Game 3 with the Lakers by scoring 31, nailed his third 3-pointer of the night from 25 feet to shatter a 98-98 deadlock with 13.7 seconds left.
It earned the Oklahoma City franchise its first road playoff triumph over the Lakers in its last 15 attempts.
Kobe Bryant, who carried his team back into this series by scoring eight of Los Angeles' final 10 points in Friday's Game 3 win, finished with a game-best 38 points, but the five-time NBA champion's effort was not enough to spark the Lakers this time.
Andrew Bynum added 18 points to go with nine rebounds, Metta World Peace had 13, while Pau Gasol struggled with 10 points and five rebounds.
The four-time All-Star Gasol committed three turnovers, including a bad pass that resulted to Durant's decisive 3-pointer.
Oklahoma City, which improved to 7-1 in the postseason, is one win away from their second straight trip to the Western Conference finals.
Reactions after the Thunder's game 4 win over the Lakers
Thunder Steal Game 4 vs Lakers, Take Commanding 3-1 Series Lead
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- Tim Duncan Declares: 'I'm a Spur for life'
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- LeBron Leads NBA All-Defensive First Team
- Eight Shot in Oklahoma City after Thunder Win
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- LeBron and Wade Torch Pacers as Heat Level Series 2-2
- Thunder Steal Game 4 vs Lakers, Take Commanding 3-1 Series Lead
- Huge Third Quarter Lifts Spurs Past Clippers for 3-0 Series Lead
- Lakers Hand Thunder First Playoff Loss, Trail Series 2-1
- Sixers Claw Back From 18-Point Deficit to Top Celtics
- Wade, Spoelstra Clash as Heat Wilt Under Pressure
- Tony Parker Nets 22, Spurs Top Clippers for 2-0 lead
- Pacers Frontline Delivers 2-1 Series Edge Against Heat
- Kevin Durant Rallies Thunder Past Lakers for 2-0 Series Lead
- Pierce Explodes as Celtics Take 2-1 Edge Against Sixers
- Well-rested Spurs Top Clippers in Game 1 of West Semis
- Lebron and Heat Cool Off, Fall To Pacers in Game 2
- Sixers Edge Celtics to Knot Series at 1-1
- LeBron and Wade Combine for 61 points as Heat Topple Pacers
- Stern Agrees that Flopping in NBA is a Concern
- Kyrie Irving Named NBA's Top Rookie
- Coach K to Step Down as Team USA Coach After London Games
- Clippers Tame Grizzlies in Game 7
- Rejuvenated Gasol Powers Lakers Past Nuggets in Game 7
- Rondo, Garnett Rally Celtics Past Sixers in Series-Opener
- Grizzlies Rout Hobbled Clippers to Force Game 7
- Heat Coach Spoelstra Expects Physical Battle Against Pacers
- Pacers' Vogel: Miami Heat Flopped Way to Top
- LeBron Snares Third NBA Most Valuable Player Trophy
- Bulls Superstar Derrick Rose Undergoes Knee Surgery
- Ty Lawson's Career Night Helps Nuggets Force Game 7 vs Lakers
- Pumped-Up Garnett Carries Celtics in Series Clincher vs Hawks
- Iguodala's Clutch Free-Throws Lift Sixers Past Bulls
- Ginobili Hopes Grizzlies-Clippers Series Goes Distance
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