Kobe Has 40 As Lakers Chew Up And Spit out Magic 100-75

Posted by Jeff Sack under NBA FINALS, NBA Game Recap

This was not a contest it was a mugging. If it took place outside the confines of the Staples Center in Los Angeles assault and battery charges most likely could have been filed. The Los Angeles Lakers came out tentative in the first quarter against the Orlando Magic but they took the game over in the middle two quarters and cruised to a 100-75 game one victory in the NBA Finals. The “Black Mamba“ bared his fangs and sunk them into the Eastern Conference Champions for a game high 40 points along with 8 assists and 8 rebounds.

On the other side of the ledger the Orlando Magic team that came to play in this game resembled the team that struggled against the Philadelphia 7ers in the first round of the playoffs. They showed none of the grit and toughness that led them to upsets against the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers. Orlando shot an embarrassing 29.9 % (23-77) from the floor for the game with Mickael Pietrus coming off the bench with a team high 14 points. Magic Center Dwight Howard recorded a double-double but with very non-Superman type numbers putting only 12 points on the board along with 15 rebounds.

The first quarter you could see the getting acquainted process going on and the Magic would have a slim 24-22 advantage as the period came to an end. At that point the team from the “City Of Angels” picked up their intensity on both ends of the floor and walked into the locker room on top 53-43. The Lakers kept their foot on the accelerator in the third and led 82-58 heading into the final period. The fourth quarter would see the Orlando Magic go out with a whimper as for the third consecutive quarter they could not score at least 20 points.

Kobe Bryant totally dominated the evening knocking down 40 points, 8 assists, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks and 2 steals in the Lakers victory. Pau Gasol scored 16 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks while Lamar Odom came off the bench with a double-double with 11 points, 14 boards, 1 block and 1 steal.

Mickael Pietrus had another good game coming off the pine for the Magic as he had 14 points and 3 rebounds. Hedo Turkoglu added 13 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block and 1 steal while Dwight Howard had another double-double with 12 points, 15 boards, 2 assists, 2 blocks and 2 steals. Game two will take place Sunday night at the Staples Center with Los Angeles leading the series 1-0.

Updates, Fresh From the Oven, Straight to Your Inbox

Promote:

Comments

One Response to “Kobe Has 40 As Lakers Chew Up And Spit out Magic 100-75”

Greg on June 5th, 2009 7:41 am

what the heck happened to the Magic? I hope it was just firstgame jitters. I firmly believe that Dwight Howard will rebound and have a superior game in game 2. Let’s just hope the Hedo gets it together and Skip to my Lue shows up…..the answer to Rafer’s problem is a benching!!! Get Jameer back! I don’t care if he plays at 70%….his 70% is enough to beat Fish of the first step. Since Fish can’t handle quick point guards at this stage in his career.

Leave a Reply