Nicolas Batum helps Portland Trail Blazers lead Los Angeles Lakers 48-44 at half time
Portland Trail Blazers forward Nicolas Batum leads all scorers with 19 points, hitting 7 of 10 field goals, as the Trail Blazers lead the Los Angeles Lakers 48-44 at half time at the Staples Center.
Kobe Bryant is playing the game despite suffering from a stiff neck and sore ankle. Bryant tops the Lakers with ten points.
Bryant promised the Lakers fans that he would play the match against the Trail Blazers in any case. He said, “I can take a hit. It was just that my neck snapped back. My neck is pretty stiff right now. ... I am trying to work through it that is all. I will
be ready (against Portland) for sure, I promise you that. I will be more than ready."
The match is no doubt one of the toughest games of the 2010-11 season since both teams are in good form; winning their last three games.
The 46-year-old Portland coach Nate McMillan said before the match against the Lakers, “We know it is going to be a tough one. We haven't beaten them this year ... and they are defending champions, so we know it is going to be a tough challenge."
First Quarter Recap
The Lakers opened the game on a 4-0 run to take the initial lead. Portland answered with Batum, who played some productive shots and scored eight consecutive points, putting the Blazers ahead by 12-8. Even though Batum played well in the opening stanza,
Bryant matched him every step of the way, troubling Batum on the offensive end with both his speed and strength.
Los Angeles then went on a 9-3 run to make it 21-13 with less than four minutes to go in the quarter. The Lakers carried a 27-20 advantage after 12 minutes courtesy of seven points from Bryant.
Second Quarter Recap
The Blazers came out strongly in the second quarter and had a good defensive run to cut the lead to just two points at 31-29 inside the fourth minute. Portland answered with lay-up shots from Brandon Roy, Batum and Gerald Wallace with six minutes left to
tie the game at 35 apiece.
The 31-year-old forward Ron Artest broke the tie with a nice eight-foot jumper to give the Lakers a two-point lead. Los Angeles then got a major three pointer from Bryant to extend their lead to 44-38 in the third minute of the second. The Trail Blazers
scored ten unanswered points in the last two minutes of the half to take a 48-44 edge into the locker room.
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