Kobe Bryant owns clutch time as Los Angeles Lakers edge Oklahoma City Thunder in double O.T - NBA Recap Part 2
Oklahoma City Thunder looked to assert their authority in the second half as they started the third quarter on an 8-2 run. Andrew Bynum responded back with 4 points for the Los Angeles Lakers to make it a 7 point contest. The
Thunder again went on a 9-0 run, as they looked to put the game away.
The lead got to as big as 18 at one point in the third period as the Lakers found it very hard to trouble Oklahoma City. On the last possession of the period, Kobe Bryant hit two free throws but still his team trailed by a huge
margin of 16 points before going into the fourth.
In the fourth quarter, Lakers displayed signs of life early as they went on a 6-2 run. Lakers were able to cut the lead to 11, however at the 7:14 mark, from the Fisher three, the lead was stretched to 14 points. But the home side
was not going out that easy as they responded with a 6-0 run to the lead to 8 points.
Durant hit a three to stretch the lead back to double figures on the next possession but the Lakers were just not letting up. From that point on, the Lakers scored 12 unanswered points to take the lead at the score of 88-87 in
the matchup.
The lead changed hands twice more in the final minute with Westbrook hitting two free throw and Bryant responding with a three at the 51.9 mark. On the next possession, Westbrook hit two more free throw to tie the game; the score
remained the same as this one went into overtime.
Lakers started the extra period with a 4-0 run and remained ahead by the same difference with 2:33 remaining. In the closing two minutes of overtime, Oklahoma rallied back to tie the scores up at 97 each. On the last possession
Westbrook had a chance to steal this one with a three but was unsuccessful on his attempt as this game went into second overtime.
Durant got the scores running in the second extra period as he slam dunked the ball to give Oklahoma City the lead. Lakers responded with 5 points, 2 from Gasol and 3 from Blake to get the lead back in the matchup.
With 1:07 remaining till the final buzzer, the scores were tied again at 104-each. But as we all know, Kobe is the best closer of game and it proved be the case in this one as well. Bryant hit a turnaround jump shot with 52.5 seconds
to give Lakers the lead.
In the final 50 seconds of the game, both sides scored all of their points from the free throw line. Oklahoma who had led for most part of the night suddenly found them-selves unable to make a basket from the field. Thunder`s remaining
two points were scored by Durant from the charity stripe.
The Lakers were able to hold their nerve from the free throw line as they successfully converted all their shots on the 4 trips in the final minute which helped them win this one by a margin of 8 in the end.
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