| April 22 - Oklahoma City. The Lakers led for most of the first three quarters but then everything went wrong and the Thunder won their first playoff game at Oklahoma CIty 101-96. The Lakers scored the first 10 points of the game and had the lead until Oklahoma tied it at 74 with an 8-0 run at the end of the third quarter that included a dunk by Westbrook and 3-pointers by Harden and Durant to make their fans go crazy. Pau Gasol made a free-throw to close the period but it was going to be the last time the Lakers were ahead on the score. In the fourth quarter coach Scott Brooks sent Kevin Durant to defend Kobe Bryant and his defensive work was one of the keys to the Thunder victory. Kobe who had 15 points in the final period of game to 2, this time went 2 for 12 in the final 12 minutes. His team stayed close and even tied it at 80 but Oklahoma always managed to escape. Kobe ended with 24 points shooting 10-for-29 and 8 assists. Durant again chased by Artest struggled to find his shot early missing his first 7 field goal attempts and 15 of his first 19 but he scored 12 of his 29 points in the final period. He also had 19 rebounds. Russell Westbrook had another big game and contributed 10 of his 27 points in the fourth. Pau Gasol had 17 points and 15 rebounds while Bynum added 13 and 7. Fisher scored 17 points including 4 of 5 three-pointers but continues to have problems against Westbrook speed. Game 4 is Saturday night again in Oklahoma City where the defending champions will try to figure it out how to stop the youngest playoff team ever from running and find a way to return home with a 3-1 lead. |
