May

22

Bryant Leads Lakers’ Second Half Comeback, Beat Spurs 89-85

Posted by Stephen Rhodes under NBA PLAYOFFS 

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Wednesday’s game between the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers appeared, at first glance, to have the makings of an ambush by the Spurs.? But as has been typical for this year’s playoffs, Kobe Bryant, like Mighty Mouse, saved the day for the Lakers.? Bryant scored 25 second-half points, leading Los Angeles to an unlikely comeback, defeating San Antonio 89-85 at Staples Center; the victory gives the Lakers a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference?finals.

The first half was relatively close; however, the Spurs’ Tim Duncan dominated in the paint as he scored 16 points and 9 rebounds in the first half as San Antonio went into the third quarter leading 51-43.? The Spurs would outscore the Lakers 14-2 to begin the third period, taking a 65-45 lead, yet Los Angeles managed to regroup as they scored 14 consecutive points in a 3:05 span to draw to within 6; San Antonio’s Manu Ginobili drained a 3-pointer, which ended a 4-minute scoring drought and allowed the Spurs to maintain a 72-65 lead entering the fourth quarter.

2 straight baskets by Bryant reduced San Antonio’s lead to 3 with 8 minutes to go in the game; after the Spurs’ Bruce Bowen made a trey with 7:38 remaining, they went scoreless for nearly 6 1/2 minutes; as a result, the Lakers took advantage by scoring 10 straight points for a 4-point lead.? Bryant gave Los Angeles their first lead of the game by making 2 free throws with 2:42 left and then made a jumper 24 seconds later to make it 85-81; 2 free throws by Ginobili with 1:22 remaining and a basket by Duncan with 41 ticks left on the clock tied the game at 85.? After the Lakers’ Bryant made a basket, Ginobili missed a jumper for San Antonio and the Lakers’ Sasha Vujacic made a pair of free throws, icing the game for Los Angeles.

Los Angeles’ leading scorer was Bryant with 27 points, 5 rebounds, 9 assists and a steal while Pau Gasol scored 19 with 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks.? San Antonio was led by Duncan with 30 points, 18 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 4 blocks while Parker scored 18 with 10 rebounds, 6 assists and a steal.? Los Angeles takes their 1-0 lead in the series into Friday’s game as they host San Antonio; tip-off is at 9:00 PM EST on TNT.

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