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2010-11 Season
Lakers Take Care of Business in Phoenix
10.30.10
Lamar Odom drives to basket against Suns.
The Lakers returned to Phoenix for the first time since dispatching the Suns in the Western Conference Finals last May, and took a win back to Los Angeles 114-106, behind a strong game from Lamar Odom.
Odom, starting in place of the injured Andrew Bynum, scored 18 points and dominated the glass with 17 rebounds. He also had five assists and hit 8-12 from the field. All the throughout the game, it was obvious how much the lack of size hurt the Suns on the boards, especially with the loss of Amare Stoudemire who is now playing in New York. The Lakers were able to take advantage of the size mismatches all night, and the sharp-shooting Suns managed to hit only 9-24 from the 3-point line.
Kobe Bryant had a solid game with 25 points on 9-19 from the field. He also added seven rebounds and needed to play only 34 minutes, getting more rest for his surgically-repaired knee which is still not 100% yet. Pau Gasol had 21 points, eight assists, nine rebounds, and two blocks, Ron Artest added 14 points and three steals, and Matt Barnes chipped in with 11 points off the bench, including 3-4 from behind the arc.
The Suns were led by Grant Hill’s 21 points, and Robin Lopez had a solid 18 points and 14 rebounds. Steve Nash struggled all night, hitting only 3-9 from the field, for eight points in 29 minutes. He did have nine assists. Goran Dragic had 15 points off the bench to go with four assists.
The game was tight early as the Suns gave a valiant effort to keep it close, and trailed only 57-50 at halftime. The Lakers stretched the the lead from 8-10 points several times in the second half, but never could put away the Suns, who managed to tie the game at 76 late in the third quarter. The Lakers pulled away early in the fourth quarter and the Suns never were never able to get to any closer than six points down the stretch.
The win moved the Lakers to 2-0 on the new season, the Suns fell to 1-2, losing their home opener after winning handily in Utah last night. The Lakers next game is Halloween night on Sunday against Golden St. at Staples Center. Golden St. may be without star second-year guard Stephen Curry, as he left the game on Friday against the Clippers after re-aggravating an ankle injury.
Link: Lakers @ Suns Box Score
Lakers Receive Rings, Bench Brings Home Win
10.27.10
Kobe Bryant hits jump shot against Rockets.
On a night where the Lakers of 2009-10 received their championship rings, it was a new Laker for 2010-11 who hit the biggest shot of the game, as the Lakers defeated the Houston Rockets 112-110 at Staples Center on Tuesday night to open the NBA season.
Steve Blake hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 18.8 seconds left on a pass from Kobe Bryant, and the Lakers, who seemed sluggish all night until late in the third quarter, escaped with the win. Blake in his Laker debut finished with 10 points on 3-5 from the field and 3-4 from beyond the arc.
Shannon Brown also had an inspired game off the bench, as he poured in 16 points, including 4-5 from the 3-point line, and showed his much-improved outside shooting. He also had four steals, and was a key catalyst as the Lakers rallied from a 15-point deficit to take the lead early in the fourth quarter.
The Lakers were able to surprisingly get back in the game with Kobe Bryant resting, as the bench took over in the third and fourth quarters. Blake and Brown each hit three 3-pointers in the final two periods, part of a big run that turned the tide.
Kobe Bryant had 27 points and seven assists, as he continues to work his way back from off-season knee surgery. Pau Gasol led everybody in the game with 29 points and 11 rebounds. Lamar Odom added 14 points and 10 rebounds in a starting role for Andrew Bynum, as the center continues to rehab his knee.
Early on the Rockets seemed determined to spoil the Lakers special night, as they shot over 50% from the field in the first half and led 62-51 at the break. They held a double-digit lead until the final moments of the third quarter, when Steve Blake hit back-to-back threes to draw the Lakers to within five. The Rockets would fall behind by as much as eight in the final quarter, but managed to pull ahead 110-109 on a Luis Scola layup with just under 30 seconds left.
Bryant then drove to the rim taking defenders with him, and passed out to Blake, who hit a 3-pointer from out front that put the Lakers ahead for good. The Rockets had two chances at the end to tie or win the game, but were unable to get good looks at the basket.
The Lakers next game is Friday night in Phoenix, where they will face an Amar’e-less Suns team for the first time.
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