Dallas Mavericks vs. Los Angeles Lakers: second half report
After taking a three-point lead over the Dallas Mavericks in the first half, 54-51, the Los Angeles Lakers went into another surge. Here is the second half analysis of the game:
Third quarter
Dirk Nowitzki was charged with a technical foul that earned the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant a technical free throw that edged the Lakers further up, 55-51. Rodrigue Beaubois fouled Bryant and was successful in netting one of the two free throws provided. Ron Artest
fought against the opposition to clinch a three-pointer making it 58-52. Pau Gasol was the next player to nail two more shots, making it an eight point lead for the Lakers with 10 minutes 26 seconds left in the final round, 60-52.
Beaubois hit an impressive finger roll layup after Jason Kidd made a steal on Bryant, to make it 54-60. Nowitzki posted seven points in a row and cut the deficit to 60-67. Bryant made a pullup and then added a free throw after fouling Jason Kidd and Lamar
Odom added a fade away jumper that took them 10 points ahead of the Mavericks, 74-64. The Lakers clinched some nice shots and played good defence while leading Dallas with 10 points consistently.
With four timeouts in hand both the teams moved forward into the final quarter. Odom shot a three-pointer and the Lakers carried a 12 point lead into the fourth quarter, 82-70.
Fourth quarter
Odom hit two consecutive three-pointers and missed the third one but it was all good as the Lakers had already accomplished an 18 point lead over the opposition, 88-70. Odom hit a driving layup at the 10:25 mark during a transition that gave the Lakers a
20 point lead over the Mavs, a whopping 90-70. Nowitzki moved forward to respond from the long range and was successful in hitting a three-pointer notching 25 points while making it 73-90 for the Mavs.
Barea hit a layup after finding a clearing as the Lakers missed a few shots. Peja Stojakovic clinched a three-pointer to ease the pressure but the Lakers were not in the mood of giving away their lead. They went on a 14-2 run with a contribution of seven
points by Bryant to make it almost impossible for the Mavericks to chase the score. The 14-2 run would soon transform into a 19-2. Continuing their strong defensive run, Gasol fouled Brian Cardinal and hit a free throw to make it 108-92.
With just 1:52 left in the game, the Mavericks were faltering by as many as 27 points, the Lakers clearly looked like two times NBA defending champs while the Mavericks faltered badly missing a variety of shots. The run included a tirade of eight 3-pointers
that the Mavericks missed.
After missing many shots that could have saved them the game, the Mavs fumbled to a 110-82 loss at the hands of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Bryant led the Lakers with 28 points whereas Nowitzki led the Mavericks with 27 points and grabbed 13 rebounds.
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