| |
|
NBA -- Thunder escape L.A. with 104-103 decision
By Mohan Labra Ramchandani PhilBoxing.com Sat, 20 Dec 2014

LOS ANGELES - Kobe Bryant missed a tightly contested 17-foot jumper with two seconds left to play and the Oklahoma City Thunder escaped with a 104-103 decision on Friday night at Staples Center.
"I didn't have my legs tonight. It was pretty frustrating," said Bryant, who finished with nine points, eight rebounds and eight assists but missed 12 of his 15 field goals.
With Bryant struggling, much of the Lakers offense was supplied by Ed Davis, who had 18 and nine rebounds. Ronnie Price and Carlos Boozer each had 14 while Jeremy Lin finished with 12, including a 15-foot jumper that moved the Lakers to within 104-103 with only 32 ticks left in the close contest.
The Thunder won their eighth game in nine outings and they beat the Lakers without reigning MVP Kevin Durant, who missed the start due to a sprained ankle sustained in OKC's loss to the Warriors on Thursday night.
Russell Westbrook stepped up in Durant's absence and poured in 31 points and 10 assists. Reggie Jackson exploded for 25 while Serge Ibaka registered 16 and seven rebounds.
"We did a lot of good things tonight. We had opportunities to defend and everybody stepped up. We have a team full of defenders and everyone has to do their job," Thunder head coach Scott Brooks told reporters at his post-game press conference.
The Thunder improved to 13-14 while the Lakers dropped to 8-18. (MR)
Photo: Kobe Bryant struggled mightily in LA's tough 104-103 loss to the OKC Thunder at Staples Center. Kobe missed 12 of 15 shots, including a potential game-winner with two seconds left to play.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Mohan Labra Ramchandani.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
MILLER AND PERO CLASH IN HEAVYWEIGHT SHOWDOWN IN LAS VEGAS ON APRIL 25 , Wed, 18 Mar 2026Middleweight Championship Battle Between (C) Khamzat Chimaev and (#3) Sean Strickland Headlines UFC® 328 at Prudential Center Live on Paramount+ , Wed, 18 Mar 2026Sampson Lewkowicz & TM Boxing Sign Undefeated Mexican Prospect José Ángel Guerrero to Co-Promotional Deal , Wed, 18 Mar 202612-Time World Champion & Hall of Famer James Toney Confirmed for Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 2, in Las Vegas , Wed, 18 Mar 2026Five stitches for Donaire’s cut By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 17 Mar 2026Roberto Gomez Training Camp Notes , Tue, 17 Mar 2026Esneth Domingo Trains at the Wildcard Gym in Los Angeles Ahead of His US Debut , Tue, 17 Mar 2026Tatay Digong Birthday Run on March 28 By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 17 Mar 202612-0 prospect Marco Romero to headline This Friday in Independence, Missouri , Tue, 17 Mar 2026700 athletes on March 21-22 at UM By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 17 Mar 2026United States Earns Four Gold Medals on Final Day of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup , Mon, 16 Mar 2026Mexico wins 2 bronze medals at World Boxing Futures Cup in Bangkok By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Mon, 16 Mar 2026Arnold Barboza Jr. Shines in Welterweight Debut, Defeats Kenneth Sims Jr. to Claim Wbo Global Welterweight Title , Sun, 15 Mar 2026WBC top contender Canoy returns to Davao with Unanimous Decision Victory , Sun, 15 Mar 2026John Randall Peralta: The Future of the Philippine Chess By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 15 Mar 2026Alvin “Felemon” Dologuin Claims Win in Brico Santig’s Show in Thailand (PHOTOS) , Sun, 15 Mar 2026Donaire's Yokohama Showdown: Can our Filipino Flash Outshine the Rising Sun? (WEIGH-IN PHOTOS) By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 15 Mar 2026USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Wins Five of Eight Bouts on Day Six , Sun, 15 Mar 2026Shai Gilgeous-Alexander surpasses Chamberlain's record of 127 consecutive NBA games with 20 points or more By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 15 Mar 2026World-Ranked Light Heavyweight Najee Lopez Stops Mexican Terminator Manuel Gallego in Eight Classic Rounds in Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’ , Sat, 14 Mar 2026Weigh-in from Highland Boxing in Bangkok, Thailand; Dologuin in Action (WEIGH-IN PHOTOS) , Sat, 14 Mar 2026Oval rules 35th CityHeights slugfest By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026Sims vs. Barboza and Dickens vs. Cacace Headline Doubleheader on DAZN By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026Rubilen Amit sustains amazing run of victories at WPBA Pool in New York By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026Weights Set in Anaheim: Barboza Jr. and Sims Jr. Ready for Welterweight War; Collazo Defends Titles , Sat, 14 Mar 2026 |

|
|
|
|
|