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Lakers Survive 3 OT Thriller Against Suns
03.23.11
Kobe Bryant drives to basket against Suns.
In one of the more-exciting games of the NBA season, the Lakers continued their post-All-Star game roll as they outlasted the Phoenix Suns in a three-overtime marathon, 139-137 at Staples Center on Tuesday night.
Kobe Bryant scored a season-high 42 points, including five in the closing minutes of the third overtime to get the Lakers their 13th win in 14 games since the break. He just missed a triple-double, as he tallied 12 rebounds and nine assists in 48 minutes.
Ron Artest made two of the biggest plays of the game, as he stole the ball from Steve Nash and slammed home a dunk with 1:11 left to put the Lakers ahead 135-132. He then drilled an off-balance 15-footer with the shot clock winding down to put the Lakers up 137-132.
After Channing Frye hit one of his five three-pointers to bring the Suns back to 137-135, Bryant hit a runner in the lane with 14 seconds left to put the Lakers up 139-135. The Suns scored two points in the final seconds, but had wasted too much time to give themselves a chance to win the game.
By the middle of the third quarter the game looked liked it would an easy victory, as the Lakers had pushed the lead to 89-68 on a Bryant shot from beyond the arc. The Suns had gone cold from the three-point line, and it looked their erratic shooting would finally catch up to them. But Steve Nash then hit back-to-back three-pointers to get the Suns within 15, and the run was on.
After a wild rally in the final quarter where the Suns were down nine with three minutes left, Grant Hill tied the game with 31 seconds left on a three from the corner. After a Bryant miss, Phoenix then missed a chance to win the game in regulation on an errant shot by Vince Carter. They also had a chance to win the game in the second overtime, but Grant Hill was unable to get off a desperation heave at the buzzer.
Lots of players put up huge numbers for both teams in this offensive marathon. Five players scored at least 20 points, six players had at least 10 rebounds, and 12 players scored in double figures.
Lamar Odom, starting for the suspended Andrew Bynum, put in a season-high 29 points and 16 rebounds on 13-22 from the field. Pau Gasol had 24 points and 13 rebounds, and Ron Artest scored 18 points.
For the Suns, Frye scored a career-high 32 points and 14 rebounds, hitting 5-13 shots from deep. Marcin Gortat had 24 points and 16 rebounds off the bench, and Nash had 19 points and 20 assists, playing over 49 minutes. He was clearly gassed at the end of the game, as he turned the ball over several times in the third overtime, and most of his shots fell short. Vince Carter scored 17 points but hit just 7-23 from the field.
The Lakers took 120 shots from the floor, making 53 for 44.2%. They hit 11-27 (40.7%) from the three-point line and 22-25 (88.0%) from the foul line. They only turned the ball over nine times. A very low number for a game that was so up-and-down the court. They also had 30 assists on their 53 baskets. Los Angeles outrebounded Phoenix 56-52, and had 18 offensive rebounds against the smaller visitors, even without Bynum.
The Suns shot 51-106 (48.1%) from the floor and took an unbelievable 41 shots from beyond the arc, making 17 for 41.5% That means the last two times they have played against the Lakers at Staples Center, they have made an incredible 37-81 (45.7.%) from distance. They also had 34 assists on their 51 baskets.
In the end though, it’s another win for the champs, as they proved they are one of the most versatile teams in the league, being able to play a slowdown game like the 84-80 win against Portland on Sunday, or a shootout against a very up tempo Phoenix Suns.
This was the Lakers first three-overtime game at home since February 2, 1969 when they played the San Francisco Warriors. The Lakers actually lost that game 122-117.
The champs next face the Clippers on Friday night at Staples of course. The Lakers are the designated home team for the game, as they look to improve on their current 4-0 homestand. They are 2-1 against their hallway neighbors this season, and beat them last on February 25th easily 108-95.
Kobe Leads Lakers Past Suns
01.06.11
Andrew Bynum throws in two against Suns.
The Lakers went into Phoenix for the second time this season, and came out with their second victory, a hard fought 99-95 win at US Airways Arena on Wednesday.
Kobe Bryant scored 11 of his game-high 24 points in the third quarter, as the Lakers turned a one-point halftime deficit into a seven-point lead after three quarters. He also grabbed seven rebounds, dished out five assists, hitting 9-17 from the field.
The Suns, who have been struggling defensively as of late, erased a 12-point first half deficit to take a 50-49 lead at the break. The Lakers grabbed the lead quickly in the third quarter, and never trailed in the second half, leading by as much as eight several times.
But the Suns would not fold, and got to within one point at 92-91, on a three-pointer by Vince Carter with just over two minutes left. Derek Fisher then hit a jumper, followed by a three-pointer by Ron Artest from the corner with just under 90 seconds left, as the Lakers hung on down the stretch for the win.
The win pushed the Lakers road record to 13-6, as they won their second straight game on the second night of a back-to-back.
Andrew Bynum had 14 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks, despite playing in foul trouble all night. Shannon Brown had 13 points off the bench, and Lamar Odom had 12 points and a team-high 10 assists, as he continues his stellar all-around play this season.
For the second straight night, the Lakers controlled their recent turnover struggles, committing just 12, which didn’t allow the high-scoring Suns to get into a running game for easy baskets. The world champs also outrebounded the Suns 47-31, including 14 at the offensive end. The extra possessions helped the Lakers offset the Suns’ advantage from the field, 48.6% to 47.1% and their 11 three-pointers.
The Suns were led by Jared Dudley’s 21 points off the bench, as he hit 8-11 from the floor, including 3-4 from beyond the arc. Dudley was one of six Suns’ players in double figures. Vince Carter had 13 points, Marcin Gortat had 12 points and nine rebounds, and Steve Nash had 11 points to go along with 10 assists.
The Lakers return home for a Friday night game against the New Orleans Hornets. The Lakers beat the Hornets 103-88 back on December 29th. Friday’s game will be the first of three straight at Staples Center, as the Knicks come to town on Sunday, and then the LeBron-less Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday.
Link: Lakers @ Suns Box Score
Lakers End Slide, Beat Raptors 94-79
11.12.03
After dropping their last two on the road, the Los Angeles Lakers returned home to Staples Center and re-established a defensive presence, beating the Toronto Raptors 94-79.
The Lakers led the game the entire way, and showed several flashes of the dominance that people expect with a lineup that includes Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, Karl Malone, and Gary Payton. They stretched the lead to as many as 20 in the third quarter, and coasted to the easy victory.
The Lakers defense re-emerged, as the Raptors shot just 35% (24-of-69) from the field, and turned the ball over 19 times. The Lakers on the other hand, were able to get a strong performance down low from O’Neal, who led the team with 23 points and 14 rebounds. Shaq hit 9-of-12 from the floor, but continues to struggle from the free throw line, making only five of 15 attempts.
The Lakers offensive balance also returned as Bryant scored 19, Malone 17, and Payton with 16. Still more production is needed from the bench, as they contributed only 13 points, seven of them by Derek Fisher.
In a game marred by some poor shooting and some sloppy play, the Lakers turned a 10-point halftime lead into a 65-45 blowout midway through the 3rd quarter, on the strength of their defense and ability to get easy transition baskets. The added pressure on defense allowed the Lakers offense to flow more smoothly from time to time, but still isn’t consistent enough yet.
The Raptors, who fell to 0-4 on the road, were led by Vince Carter, who scored 23 points but hit only 7-of-22 shots, including 1-of-6 from beyond the arc. Morris Petersen scored 16, and Lamond Murray chipped in 15 off the bench.
The Lakers next game is Friday against the Detroit Pistons at Staples Center.
Link: LakerStats.com Box Score
Link: NBA.com Recap
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