There’s nothing like a rematch with the Oklahoma City Thunder to get the Los Angeles Lakers locked in. In a game that honestly looked like it could have occurred in the next decade with all the athletic plays on both ends, the Lakers broke ahead with a third-quarter surge and did enough to hold off the Thunder each time they rallied, eventually winning 101-94.
Kobe Bryant, Lakers Hold Off Russell Westbrook, Thunder, 101-94
Kobe Bryant had just 21 points, but it was the kind of game the Lakers need from him going forward. He attacked Thabo Sefolosha off the dribble, not letting him use his length to contest his jump shots. In the process, we learned he could still do this.
Bryant didn’t really have it going down the stretch, but he didn’t need to because the Thunder struggled so much in their half court offense. Their transition game was just breathtaking throughout the contest. Led by Russell Westbrook (32 points), the Thunder showed why they are so much fun to watch with some amazing athletic plays. But when the game became a half-court contest, the Thunder’s weaknesses really showed. They scored no points in the final two minutes and couldn’t get Kevin Durant the ball in good spots. Maybe they should be rethinking who gets the ball down the stretch, but in the meantime, at least execute your plays.
In general, it was a two-person effort from the Thunder. Westbrook and Durant did well, but nobody else stepped up. Jeff Green served up another clunker (3-11, six points), Sefolosha showed why his defense has slipped this year and James Harden went 4-11. Westbrook and Durant have to hope their teammates can match their level of play in more important games going forward.
Silver Screen and Roll thinks the game resembled last year’s playoff series, in that the Thunder got a lot from Westbrook, low-efficiency scoring from Durant and a big fat zero from everyone else.
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