Nov

19

Lakers Survive Bulls Fourth Quarter Stampede Win 116-109

Posted by Jeff Sack under NBA Game Recap 

Los Angeles Lakers forward Pau Gasol scored a game high 34 points, and his team withstood a fourth quarter surge by the Chicago Bulls to win Tuesday night 116-109. Chicago was able to cut the Lakers lead to single digits, but the team from Los Angeles kept the upper hand, and held on for the win. The victory keeps Los Angeles as the team with the best winning percentage in the Association, leading defending NBA Champion the Boston Celtics by percentage points. (Lakers .889 Celtics .833)

Both teams came out shooting in the first quarter, with the Lakers on top by a razor thin margin 30-29 at the end of the period. Los Angeles would pull way ahead of Chicago during the second, leading 57-40 when Gasol slammed it through the cylinder with 3:57 left in the quarter. But the Bulls would end the quarter on a 16-4 run, and it was a 61-56 Lakers lead as the two teams hit the half. Chicago went stone cold during the third quarter and Los Angeles had a 90-74 advantage as the fourth quarter began. The Bulls got back in sync in the final 12 minutes, but they simply ran out of time.

Pau Gasol led all players with 34 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, in the Los Angeles victory. Kobe Bryant scored 21 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 blocks, Andrew Bynum just missed a double-double, with 18 points, 9 rebounds, 3 blocks, 2 assists, 1 steal.  Jordan Farmar came off the bench and had 12 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, Lamar Odom added 10 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, 3 blocks.

Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro was forced to put guard Ben Gordon in the starting lineup when he lost Kirk Hinrich to injury. (A move I had been advocating since the start of the season.) By teaming Gordon and the “Rook” number one NBA Draft pick Derrick Rose Chicago now has a formidable back court. Rose scored 25 points, 9 assists, 3 rebounds, Gordon added 23 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals. Aaron Gray came of the bench and had 11 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal. Los Angeles now has a record of 8-1, Chicago now stands at 5-6.

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