Lakers Gameday | 02/10/09 | Lakers 105, Thunder 98
 Los Angeles Lakers
Western Conference Standing : 1 Streak: Won 6 |
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 Oklahoma City Thunder
Western Conference Standing : 13 Streak: Lost 1 |
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---Francisco Gomez, Lakers.com
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Bryant reaches 23,000 in win over Thunder
LOS ANGELES(AP) Kobe Bryant showed no lingering effects from the flu, scoring 34 points and becoming the youngest player in NBA history to reach 23,000 in the Los Angeles Lakers' 105-98 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night. Pau Gasol had 22 points and 14 rebounds, and Lamar Odom had 12 points and a season-high 18 boards for the Lakers, just back from a 6-0 trip they concluded with wins against Boston and Cleveland. Bryant had chills and fever and needed intravenous fluids at halftime of Sunday's game against the Cavaliers. Although Los Angeles has the league's best record and Oklahoma City one of the worst, the Thunder stayed close most of the game, but they trailed the entire second half. Kevin Durant finished with 31 points, his fifth 30-point game in a row, and 10 rebounds in the loss. Russell Westbrook had 17 points and nine rebounds. With fans chanting "MVP,'' Bryant made a free throw with 5:13 left in the second quarter to become the youngest player in NBA history with 23,000 points at 30 years, 171 days old. He bounced the first of two free throws off the front of the rim, the backboard and in for his 14th point of the game. He joined 20 others in league history who've reached the mark. Wilt Chamberlain was formerly the youngest at 30 years, 176 days. He still ranks as the fastest to 23,000, reaching it in 606 games, while Bryant, who came straight from high school to the NBA, reached it in his 917th game. Los Angeles held a 13-point lead at halftime, but the Thunder cut the deficit to 80-73 by the end of the third quarter. Bryant and Odom combined on several spectacular plays. Down by two with 4 seconds left in the first quarter, the Lakers drew even as Bryant grabbed Odom's length-of-the-court pass just over the outstretched hands of a defender and dunked to tie it at 25. In the second quarter, Bryant threaded a pass to Odom as he split defenders down the lane and Odom seemed to catch the ball, go up and dunk all in the same motion. Even Lakers coach Phil Jackson smiled at that play. The ailing Bryant scored 19 in Sunday's 101-91 victory at Cleveland that was the Cavaliers' first home loss of the season. Odom took up the slack, scoring a season-high 28. Against the Thunder, Bryant scored 22 in the first half to help the Lakers to a 60-47 lead. Odom had eight points and 11 rebounds at the break. Durant had 10 points, the only Oklahoma City player in double figures. Notes: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar holds the NBA career scoring record with 38,387 points. ... Jackson said before the game that Oklahoma City was essentially a team in disarray back when the Lakers beat them 105-94 in a preseason meeting, but they've changed: "What you have is a young, athletic team that's learning how to play together, found a rotation they've gotten comfortable with, and a new coach. Defensively, they've still got a lot to learn.'' The Thunder were 10-9 coming into the game, quite an improvement over their 3-29 start.
Copyright 2008 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited
Lakers - Thunder Preview
Back home following their most successful road trip in nine seasons, the Los Angeles Lakers look to keep the momentum going at Staples Center. Facing one of the league's worst road teams looks promising, but Oklahoma City is playing some of its best basketball of the season. The Lakers go for their seventh consecutive win on Tuesday night against a Thunder squad targeting its first three-game winning streak of the season. Los Angeles (41-9) finished a 6-0 road trip on Sunday by handing the Cleveland Cavaliers their first home loss of the season, 101-91. It was the Lakers' first undefeated six-game trip since Feb. 15-23, 2000, which took place during a 19-game winning streak. After averaging 35.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.0 assists during the first five games of the trip, Kobe Bryant scored just 19 against Cleveland as he battled the flu. He scored 31.8 points per game on 52.1 percent shooting as the Lakers went 4-0 against the Oklahoma City franchise in 2007-08. Bryant is probable for Tuesday's game. Lamar Odom posted season highs with 28 points and 17 rebounds on Sunday. He is scoring 16.8 points per game and averaging 10.8 rebounds since being inserted into the starting lineup after Andrew Bynum went down with an injured right knee in the Lakers' 115-98 win over Memphis on Jan. 31. "That was one of the best games (Odom has) played for us," said Los Angeles coach Phil Jackson, whose team has won 10 of 11. "He's had some spectacular games, but that was a terrific game. It was the total package of his game." Pau Gasol, averaging 26.0 points and 13.8 boards since Bynum was injured, posted his fourth consecutive double-double on Sunday with 18 points and 12 rebounds as the Lakers improved to 4-0 without their starting center. "We're playing for perfection," Odom said, "and in order to do that, it takes a lot of energy, focus and commitment to winning and doing whatever it takes. We got production from everyone." The Lakers may have Adam Morrison available for Tuesday's game. Acquired from Charlotte on Saturday, Morrison was scheduled for a physical in Los Angeles on Monday. Oklahoma City (13-38) faces Los Angeles for the first time on Tuesday night following Sunday's 116-113 win over Sacramento. The Thunder won their second straight behind Kevin Durant's 39-point, seven-rebound effort. Durant has scored 30-plus points in four straight games and is averaging 28.8 points on the season as Oklahoma City has won 10 of 19 following a 3-29 start. The Oklahoma City franchise has lost four straight road games to the Lakers since a 120-113 victory on March 12, 2006, but will have to do a better job defensively than it did on Sunday, when it allowed 67 second-half points to the Kings. Sacramento made 15-of-21 from the floor in the third quarter and shot 55.0 percent for the game. "I thought we got too relaxed at times," Durant said. "They made some tough, contested shots, but we came back with some key baskets ourselves." The Lakers are averaging a league-best 108.7 points and shooting 47.9 percent - third in the NBA. Oklahoma City, meanwhile, is allowing 103.2 points per game, which is sixth-worst in the league. The Thunder's opponents are shooting 47.2 percent this season. Copyright 2008 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited
GAME NOTES
NOTES & CONNECTIONS The Lakers swept last season’s series with the Thunder 4-0 and have now won each of their last three season series against Oklahoma City. The two teams have met 211 times with Los Angeles leading the all-time series 128-83. The Lakers are 8-2 in their last 10 games against Oklahoma City and are winners of six straight against the Thunder and 8-of-their-last-9 overall. At home, the Lakers have gone 7-3 their last 10 games against the Thunder and are 11-7 alltime against Oklahoma City at STAPLES Center. On the road against the Thunder, the Lakers have gone 6-4 in their last 10 overall but are 5-1 in their last six as the visitor. Under head coach Phil Jackson, the Lakers are 20-11 against the Thunder. In 2006-07, Kobe Bryant established a Lakers series record with 46 points 4/6/07 at KeyArena only to surpass it nine days later with 50 points 4/15/07 at home against the Thunder. In those games, he surpassed the old mark of 45 points established by himself in January of 2003 and Jerry West in December of 1970. In 43 career games including 36 starts, Bryant is averaging 24.6 points against the Thunder but has averaged 37.3 (224) points in their last six meetings. Lamar Odom and Thunder forward Chris Wilcox played one season together (2002-03) with the Los Angeles Clippers. Wilcox was traded from the Clippers to the Thunder in 2006 in exchange for current Lakers forward Vladimir Radmanovic. Thunder guard Chucky Atkins played on season for the Lakers (2004-05), averaging 13.6 points in 82 games.
LAKERS SCOUTING REPORT
The Oklahoma City Thunder started the season 3-29. They are 10-9 in their last 19 games. They are a young, talented team that will play extremely hard and is playing with a lot of confidence right now. We know that this is a very big game for them. The first game back after any long road trip is always a challenge so we are well aware of the danger we face tonight. The Thunder have three very solid young players on the rise. We must do a great job of controlling/containing Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, and Russell Westbrook. All three can shoot (including 3’s), drive, pull-up, and post if head coach Brooks feels they have an advantage. It is also key that we defend these players without fouling due to the fact that all their players who play significant minutes shoot 75% or better from the line.
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