Oklahoma City Thunder knock Los Angeles Lakers out of the playoffs: Game-5 as it happened: NBA Playoffs
In the early stages of the ball game, there was not much to separate the Los Angeles Lakers and the Oklahoma City Thunder. The visiting Lakers tried their best to stay close to the free flowing Thunder offense
and had the game close 13-14 at the 4:16 mark in the first quarter.
OKC managed 4 quick points inside the next minute to get some kind of distance from the visitors and were able to hold to their advantage to 26-21 at the end of the first period.
Inside the first four minutes of the second quarter, Lakers rallied back to take the lead with the score line being 35-32 courtesy of a 7-0 spurt. Thunder responded back with an 8-0 run of their own to snatch
the lead right back. The action remained close for the rest of the proceedings in the first half; however OKC led 54-51 at the half way stage, because of a World Peace flagrant 1 which allowed the Thunder four easy points.
The second half clearly depicted the gulf there is in the talent available in the two teams. The main exclamation mark came in the third quarter with Thunder jumping out of the break with all guns blazing.
Serge Ibaka scored on a jump shot to get things started for OKC. The next several minutes of the ball game saw the two team’s battle it out on both ends of the floor and midway during the third quarter, there
was no telling apart with the scores tied at 66.
Lakers scored the next four points of the contest to take minor lead in the game. But this Thunder unit has shown some gritty resilience in the playoffs and tonight was no different. Kendrick Perkins put an end
to the run by LA by getting an easy layup which started an offensive sequence for the Thunder.
At the 4:09 mark of the third quarter came the most crucial point of the run when Russell Westbrook got his hands in the passing lane to steal the ball and went the other way to make a stupendous and-one play.
The three point play from Westbrook fired up a rout which just blew away the Lakers.
A 14-3 was capped off by another spectacular play from Westbrook in which he made a bank shot while getting fouled by Ramon Sessions on the play.
Kobe Bryant put an end to the scoring run with a three pointer for the Lakers; however the damage had already been done. After three quarter of game time OKC were leading by 83-77.
As part of the Lakers rotation, Mike Brown opted to sit out Bryant at the start of the fourth quarter putting trust in the capabilities of the rest of his players. OKC made the best of this opportunity by opening
up the proceedings of the final quarter with a 10-0 run. In that sequence Kevin Durant hit two mesmerizing three pointers and the run was capped off by Westbrook driving to the basket for an easy layup.
This allowed the Thunder to lead 93-77 in the ball game. Metta World Peace responded with a fade away jump shot but the Thunder just kept on coming. They continued to pile the score board by making shot after
shot and even though the Lakers tried their best to stay in the game, the Thunder charge was just too much too handle and finally with just under a minute remaining LA raised the flag by taking Pau Gasol, Bryant and Sessions out of the ball game at the same
time.
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