Below is a running diary of the Lakers’ matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder, with comments drawn from Mike Trudell’s @LakersReporter Twitter account, to ensure you’re covered from start to finish.
First Quarter
Kobe stripped Durant on KD’s first touch with a chance to do something; Durant smiled and pointed towards Kobe to acknowledge the play.
Durant just blocked Kobe twice on one possession, Bryant nodding KD’s way to repeat the earlier exchange of respect.
Kobe came in shooting 48.2% in his last 7 games, but Durant’s getting after him tonight, and Bryant’s 1 for 7 to start. LAL trail 21-10.
Kobe’s 2nd dunk of the year came after Lou Williams got a steal and found Bryant ahead of the pack in transition. Two-handed finish.
Robert Sacre grabbed a loose ball and managed to hit an 18-foot J for the final points of the 1st Q, LAL trailing 27-17.
Second Quarter
A 10-2 Lakers run capped by a @Dloading triple trims the once 15-point OKC lead to 5 early in the 2nd Q as Westbrook/Ibaka/Kobe return.
Kobe missed a 3 on the next trip, but followed by up-faking Durant and finding Russell for an open 3 that put LAL up 35-33. 21-6 LAL run.
After starting the game 1 for 6, Kobe has hit 5 of his next 8 shots (2 3’s) to notch a game-high 17 points, 13 in the 2nd Q alone.
OKC’s on a run, capped by Durant’s bucket around Kobe and transition feed to Roberson for a layup, allowing a 54-44 lead late in the 2nd.
Third Quarter
It’s now a 17-0 Thunder run to start the 3rd Q after a pull-up 3 from Durant, who like Westbrook has 19 points.
Kobe’s done for the night with 19 points, likely, with LAL down 88-56 after D’Angelo Russell’s and-1. Durant’s also out with 21, 7 and 5.
And while Russell is +17, Williams is, somehow, a -47, and Nance, Jr. a -45. You don’t see numbers like that too often. OKC leads 90-61.
Fourth Quarter
Russell’s up to 18 points after hitting his 4th 3 thanks to a move that spun Kyle Singler around. OKC’s lead is 114-79 with 2:44 left.
Final: OKC 120, LAL 85. Durant and Westbrook combined for 44, 15 and 13. Kobe had 19 points, D’Angelo Russell 18 in the defeat.
