Top Performers from second round of play-offs Game 1- May 2: NBA News Part 2
Dallas Mavericks’ Dirk Nowitzki
Dirk Nowitzki spearheaded the Dallas Mavericks to an enthralling win over the Los Angeles Lakers. He scored 28 points and 14 rebounds at the Staples Centre which proved vital for the Mavericks as they edged past the Lakers with a 96-94 win on Monday night
in Los Angeles.
Nowitzki scored his 11 points in the final quarter and also clutched the game high 14 rebounds. He scored two crucial free-throws when only 19.5 seconds were remaining in the game.
The Mavericks' Head Coach, Rick Carlisle, also acknowledged Nowitzki’s ball play and appreciated overall his team’s winning effort when he spoke out to the media, “You've got to make plays, and you've got to dodge some bullets, we did both.”
Dirk Nowitzki is averaging 27.4 points and 8.70 rebounds per game in this year’s play-offs. The Mavericks will be facing the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference semi-finals after defeating the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of quarter-finals.
Dallas Mavericks’ Jason Terry
Dallas Mavericks’ Jason Terry chipped 15 points, three rebounds and four assists against the Los Angeles Lakers. Terry posted his 13 out of total 15 points in the first two quarters and favoured the Mavericks as their reserves out-scored the Lakers’ bench
with thrilling 40-25 difference.
Mavericks’ guard Terry always played well in crucial stages for his team as he already scored 119 points in last seven play-off games and proved a lethal weapon in the dying seconds of the game.
Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant
The Los Angeles Lakers’ heart-throb, Kobe Bryant scored the game high 36 points and five rebounds in their second round of play-offs’ opener against the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, California.
Kobe posted his 81st 30 points and is now close to the record of 109th 30 points, which was set by Michael Jordan.
Kobe Bryant’s this brilliant performance was no use as the Lakers were beaten by the Mavericks who are now ahead 1-0 in the best-of-seven of the second round play-off series.
Los Angeles Lakers’ Pau Gasol
The other Lakers’ player Pau Gasol who scored 15 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists also could not do much for his team. The Mavericks somehow snuch past with a 96-94 win and left the Lakers rethinking over their strategy.
The Lakers’ head Coach, Phil Jackson, expressed his frustration when he said, “We felt like we gave the game away, I'm not so sure Dallas didn't outplay us, but the players felt like we gave it away. ... The game was won in the third quarter when we got
the lead and stopped playing defence and stopped playing offense. It took a lot of energy out of us and gave a lot of energy to them.”
The Lakers’ Coach Jackson, might have guessed the right shortcomings of his team, however the game was won by the Dallas Mavericks and gave them a fresh confident for the very next game which is scheduled on Wednesday at the Staples Centre.
Tags: