Read more about this game, the teams involved and this game on our Lakers blog, Silver Screen and Roll, and our Thunder blog, Welcome to Loud City.
Game 6, 9:30 P.M.: Durant, Thunder Try To Keep Dream Alive Vs. Lakers
Oklahoma City, OK (Sports Network) - Pau Gasol scored on a put-back off a Kobe Bryant miss with half a second remaining, pushing the Los Angeles Lakers into the second round of the playoffs with a 95-94 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Lakers blew a seven-point lead with 4 1/2 minutes left, but then came back from a three-point deficit to take Game 6 of their Western Conference quarterfinal series.
The Thunder won twice on their home court and nearly a third time against the defending NBA champions, but Gasol, with his dominant inside play, pushed the Lakers into round two against either Denver or Utah.
Bryant scored 32 points, while Gasol scored nine to go with 18 rebounds, the last one being the most crucial of the series.
Kevin Durant had 26 points but was just 5-of-23 from the field, and Russell Westbrook finished with 21 points and nine assists for the Thunder, who were honored with a standing ovation at the Ford Center after the game.
Durant’s layup extended the Thunder to a 94-91 edge with 2 1/2 minutes left, but Bryant responded with a jumper from the left corner 19 seconds later.
Neither team could find the hoop over the next two minutes, and inside the final few seconds, Bryant let a shot go from the right baseline over Westbrook, but it missed off the rim. Gasol got inside position on Serge Ibaka and scored on the put-back.
Westbrook’s last shot attempt from the right corner hit off the rim as time expired.
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