Dallas Mavericks vs. Los Angeles Lakers, First Half report
The Los Angeles Lakers hosted the Dallas Mavericks at the Staples Center, Los Angeles, Thursday, 31 March. Here is an analysis of the first half of the game:
First quarter
Lakers’ Andrew Bynum and Mavericks’ Wilson Chandler started the game for their respective teams. Shawn Marion clinched the first shot after Kobe Bryant failed to net a three-pointer for the Lakers. Pau Gasol leveled the score at 2-all after hitting a jump
shot with an assist by Ron Artest. Bryant’s jump shot was next to make it 4-2, for the Lakers. Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd hit two shots to edge past the Lakers, 7-4. Nowitzki and Rodrigue Beaubois clinched two more shots that give the Mavs a four point lead
over the opposition, 14-10.
Bryant hit a jumper to cover the deficit after Artest sealed a shot from long range at the 5:49 mark. The game was tied four times before Lamar Odom’s jump shot edged the Lakers past the Mavericks into the second quarter, 28-26. Jason Terry missed a three-pointer
that could otherwise have been beneficial for Dallas.
Second quarter
Andrew Bynum posted a hook shot for the Lakers as Steve Blake dished out his first assist and made it 30-26. Nowitzki added a jump shot to notch eight points for himself and moved closer to the Lakers, 28-30. Matt Barnes came off the bench and slam dunked
to add more distance, 32-28 and Bynum added another dunk after rebounding the ball little after the nine minute mark, 34-28.
Tired of trailing, the Mavericks produced two free throws after fouling Blake and made it 32-35. Barnes made it a 5-point deficit by hitting a reverse layup. Peja Stojakovic pinned a three-pointer to ease the burden making it 35-37 for the trailing Mavericks.
Jose Barea notched a driving layup to tie the score at 37-all. Stojakovic hit a three-pointer to snatch the lead out of Lakers hands, making it 40-38, at the 6:12 in the second quarter.
The game was tied twice before the Lakers took the lead and entered the locker room with a three-point lead over the opposition, 54-51.
Nowitzki scored 14 to lead the Mavericks whereas Gasol had 13 followed by Bryant who scored 12 points.
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