New Orleans Hornets vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 2nd Half Report: NBA Playoffs-Game 2
Complicating the situation even further for the Hornets at the beginning of the third, the Lakers who were already leading with six points at the end of first half, made a steal on Carl Landry’s shot and the Lakers lifted the score by a margin of eight,
49-41. Kobe Bryant was fouled, earning Chris Paul three free throws. Paul clinched two of them to score 11 points with 11 seconds left in the final quarter, 43-49. Bryant who was struggling with just three points at the end of first half, missed another opportunity
to get a layup but Andrew Bynum posted the next shot after grabbing a rebound, 51-43.
Landry chipped in a jump shot after Emeka Okafor passed him the ball. Both teams got defencive, not letting the opposite team score for a period of approximately three minutes. The Lakers missed a number of vital shots in that frame and so did the Hornets.
The Hornets were the first ones to break the slump after receiving a free throw thanks to Bryant. Trevor Ariza added two shots in a row to cut the deficit short to just two points, 49-51. Not in the mood to let go of the lead, the Lakers went on an 11-0 run
from then on, stopping only with just three minutes left in final quarter. Bryant’s running jump shot extended the Lakers lead to 10 points at the 1:48 mark of the third quarter. At 63-53 the Lakers never looked back.
The Hornets tried to get hold of the game in the final quarter, but the Lakers would not stop. They picked up from 63 points and pushed the score to 72 points, Hornets 59. Gasol received two free throws after fouling Aaron Gray, Lamar Odom followed with
a running jump shot of his own to pull LA ahead by 16 points. The Hornets tried to push the Lakers as Jarrett Jack nailed a free throw after Bryant earned his technical foul and Paul followed with two more, 67-77. Soon Bryant was at the other end, scoring
two free throws after fouling Paul, 79-67. Ariza shot two in a row, cutting the deficit short to nine points.
With just two minutes 41 seconds left in the game, the Hornets tried to overcome the slump and they did succeed to some extent. Okafor’s tip shot and Ariza’s free throws gave them a little lift, 74-81. With just 40 seconds left, Ron Artest pinned a three-pointer
and the Hornets could not do anything to hold back the Lakers who were playing with the determination of two times NBA defending champs. Bryant pinned a free throw, and Paul clinched one for the Hornets, 78-87. But the game was already taking its last breaths
and nothing could turn the game around. Lakers won, tying the best-of-seven series at 1-1, 87-78.
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