Andrew Bynum, Ramon Sessions help Los Angeles Lakers overcome the Portland Trail Blazers – NBA Recap
Andrew Bynum posted 28 points with 9 rebounds, Ramon Sessions had a double-double with 20 points and 11 assists while Pau Gasol had 10 rebounds, 16 rebounds and 6 assist as the Los Angeles Lakers edged out the Portland Trail Blazers
103-96 at the Staples Centre on Friday night.
The Lakers won despite a lack luster night from Kobe Bryant – 18 points on a 5-of-17 shooting – but had to face tough resistance from LaMarcus Aldridge. The All Star forward scored a game high 29 points and 9 rebounds.
Session started his first game for the Lakers and scored his first points with a finger roll layup inside the first two minutes as the hosts raced away to an 8-2 run. The Trail Blazers bounced back with an 8-4 response but then
saw the Lakers sprint away to an 18-9 spurt for a 30-19 lead as the first quarter came to an end.
Portland’s latest acquisition J.J. Hickson made two consecutive baskets to reduce the deficit to seven, but Andrew Bynum and Meta World Peace combined to put the equation back into double figures. The Lakers maintained a 12 point
advantage, 42-20, with a little over six minutes remaining in the first half, LaMarcus Aldridge was about to take over.
The All Star power forward hammered 13 points in a 15-4 Trail Blazers run that made it a one point game, 45-46. A Pau Gasol jumper later, Wesley Mathews drilled a three to tie the game at 48, but the Lakers scored the last five
points to cap the first half at 53-48.
The Trail Blazers made a run to cut their deficit early in the second half and did that in the first five minutes, tying the game at 71. However, they missed four of the next five shots from the floor to let go of the initiative.
The Lakers pulled a 9-3 run in that period, but failed to score a field shot in the last 4:35 of the third quarter, ending it with a slender 71-20 advantage.
The fourth quarter saw some tight action. Portland gave the Lakers some stiff resistance and never allowed them any breathing space. With 3:44 remaining, Raymond Felton dropped a shot from the land of three to bring the scores
at 89-90. Gasol missed a jumper on the next possession, but Josh McRoberts salvaged the rebound and Session knocked down a telling three moments later. Matt Barnes slipped in a layup after missed floater from Felton and the Lakers never looked back after that.
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