Andrew Bynum and Kobe Bryant star as Los Angeles Lakers edge out Memphis Grizzlies in double O.T: NBA
Los Angeles Lakers love to play offense.
They had been criticized all season long for a laid back approach and over dependence on Kobe Bryant, but on Tuesday night, they produced their third 100 plus game in four outings to squeak past the resilient Memphis Grizzlies
116-11 in double overtime.
Searching for back to back wins after beating the Boston Celtics two nights ago, the Lakers trailed by as many as 17 points, 72-55, at the midway stage of the third quarter. But, by the time only 50 seconds were remaining in regulation
time, Pau Gasol made a dunk and the Lakers took a 97-95 lead.
The other Gasol, Marc Gasol, however responded with a jumper to tie the game. Bryant missed a go ahead jumper on the next possession and the Lakers barely survived after Mike Conley clanked a buzzer beating three.
The Grizzlies raced to the lead thrice in the first overtime, but each time they nudged ahead, the Lakers would bounce right back and the game proceeded to second extra time with the game in a 103 deadlock.
Steve Blake started the period with a missile from the land of three to give the Lakers a head start, but the Grizzlies came right back with six unanswered points to claim a 109-106 lead.
That was where Andrew Bynum and Kobe Bryant decided to finish the game in a hurry.
The centre erupted with six while Kobe had 4 in a breakaway 10-2 burst as the Lakers improved to 8-14 on the road.
Bynum led LAL with 37 points on an incredible 15-for-18 shooting from the floor and 7-of-8 from the free throw line. Bynum also had 16 boards while Bryant netted 34, grabbed 9 rebounds and dished out 5 assists. Pau Gasol also
had 14 points and 8 rebounds for the Lakers, who shot 41-of-83 from the floor and also made six of their 20 three point attempts.
The Grizzlies on the other hand, dominated on the glass, both in rebounds and points, but managed to knock down only 2-of-19 from distance. O.J. Mayo was by far the biggest culprit with 0-of-8 from the long range as the Grizzlies
spurned a golden opportunity to displace the Lakers from the third seed in the Western Conference. Mayo ended the night with 14 points on 7-of-25.
With Rudy g*y not in action due to concussion, Marreese Speights paced the Grizzlies with a season-high 25 points. Marc Gasol had a 20 point - 11 rebound double-double; Tony Allen finished with 18 points while Mike Conley finished
the night with 10 points and 11 assists.
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