Kobe Bryant lifts Lakers past Thunder in overtime
Published: November 3, 2009
Kobe Bryant scored 31 points and hit the go-ahead jumper in overtime as the Los Angeles Lakers got tested in their first road game of the season, beating the Oklahoma City Thunder 101-98 on Tuesday night.
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Bryant connected on a turnaround jumper from the left side with 2:29 to play to give the defending NBA champions a 99-97 lead and then hit two free throws with 18 seconds remaining to push the lead to three.
The Thunder had two chances to tie it late, but Thabo Sefolosha and Russell Westbrook each missed 3-pointers surrounding a pair of missed free throws by Lamar Odom.
Bryant grabbed the ball after Westbrook's miss and tossed it toward the opposite end of the court to allow the final seconds to run off the clock.


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And the shot that would have tied it at the end of OT didn't drop. You so need to make the clutch shot at the end.
I guess some of you think Gas and Hamilton wouldn't have affected the games. Whatever.
I did see on ESPN what 31 year old Dirk did in the 4th quarter -- 29 points. You might argue he doesn't matter either. He's pretty old anyway.
I was thinking they should change the win-loss accounting and instead of counting Ws and Ls, you could have L+ and W- weighted appropriately so that teams that 'almost win' a lot of games can get deserved recognition.
Go Storm!
Kevin Durant struggled but Ron Artest is a good player and great defender. It is never easy when Artest is the main defender.
Russell Westbrook didn't have a great game. Kevin Ollie seemed to clam down the Thunder when he was on the floor.
Thabo has done a great job this year but James Harden needs to be on the floor to take the three in the corner to tie the game. Harden is a gifted player and it would be wise to go ahead and have him in the game when they need a shot. He also is a terrific passer and looks more like a point guard than Westbrook at times.
There are alot of positives to take away. I know it is a moral victory but the Thunder will eventually learn to close out games.
Alf you make me laugh. Bla bla this. Bla bla that. Your such a nincompoop. LOL
Great effort by the team.
El Prez, Deer Creek