| |
|
NBA PLAYOFFS -- Bynum plays big in Lakers opener
By Jose Roberto Meza
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 30 Apr 2012
LOS ANGELES -- As usual, Kobe Bryant came up big when the LA Lakers opened their 2012 NBA playoffs run Sunday afteroon before a fullhouse crowd of 18,997 at the Staples Center here in dowtown Los Angeles.
Bryant sizzled for 31 points as Los Angeles easily dispatched the Denver Nuggets, 103-88, to win Game 1 of their best-of-7 series.
As spectacular as Kobe was, he had to share the spotlight with big man Andrew Bynum, who tore through the history pages with a playoffs performance of a lifetime.
The 7-foot, 285-pound Bynum finished with 10 points, 13 rebounds and 10 blocked shots. Those ten blocks tied an NBA record shared by Mark Eaton of the Utah Jazz and all-time great Hakeem Olajuwon of the Houston Rockets. Those ten blocks also broke a 35-year old franchise record of nine blocks held by Hall-of-Fame center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
The last Laker to register a triple-double in a playoffs game was Lakers megastar Magic Johnson, who pulled the trick in Game 5 of the 1991 NBA Finals --- 16 points, 11 rebounds and 20 assists.
"Monstrous. He was an absolute beast down there," Lakers head coach said of his center's historic effort.
At least one Nugget was very pleased with Bynum's effort. "We've got to find a way to score before he gets in the paint, because he's impressive, "said Denver forward Danilo Gallinari.
Bynum's previous playoff game was an ugly memory. He was ejected in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals last May when he threw a viciously malicious elbow that sent then Dallas Mavericks guard J.J. Barea crashing hard on the floor.
This time, though, all is good. And Bynum is slowly making a case as the NBA's best big man. With his triple-double treat against the Nuggets, who's to argue. (Jose Roberto Meza)
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Jose Roberto Meza.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Trazo beats Jabagat in Talisay
By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 01 Feb 2026Into fights Sanchez on Feb. 9 at Villa Kristen
By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 01 Feb 2026Teofimo Lopez vs Shakur Stevenson: Styles Make Fights Fitting Cliche
By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 31 Jan 2026Bryan Flores Wins Majority Decision Over Starling Castillo in Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’ at Live! Casino Hotel Maryland
, Sat, 31 Jan 2026KinetixSports Legacy Run on March 1
By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 31 Jan 2026THE RING 6: OFFICIAL WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER FOR TEOFIMO LOPEZ VS. SHAKUR STEVENSON
, Sat, 31 Jan 2026Legendary Soccer Player Sergio Ramos to make professional boxing debut
By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 31 Jan 2026Weigh-In Results: Xander Zayas vs. Abass Baraou
, Sat, 31 Jan 2026Teofimo vs Shakur Fight Analysis
By Ralph Rimpell, , Sat, 31 Jan 2026Rohan Polanco-Christian Gomez Welterweight Showdown Canceled
, Sat, 31 Jan 2026NEWCASTLE WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND FIGHT NIGHT RUNNING ORDER CONFIRMED AS MURTAZALIEV AND KELLY CLASH FOR WORLD TITLE
, Fri, 30 Jan 2026Boxers Make Weight for Brico Santig’s Exciting 21-Bout Promotion in Thailand (PHOTOS)
By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 30 Jan 2026“It’s time for TSABZ to shine” Get to know Tanaka Saburi as he retuns March 13 in Perth – Thunderdome 53
, Fri, 30 Jan 2026ATLANTIC CITY BOXING HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES CLASS OF 2026
, Fri, 30 Jan 2026Manny Pacquiao Chess Philippines: WCM Nika Juris Nicolas is Ready to Fight
By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 30 Jan 2026PFDA Grass Nationals in Tagum on June 5-7
By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 30 Jan 2026Press Conference Notes: Puerto Rican Star Xander Zayas Ready for Saturday's Hometown Unification Battle against Abass Baraou
, Fri, 30 Jan 2026PFDA Grass Nationals in Tagum on June 5-7
By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 30 Jan 2026‘THE RING 6’ TEOFIMO LOPEZ VS. SHAKUR STEVENSON PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
, Fri, 30 Jan 2026NEWCASTLE PRESS CONFERENCE: WHAT WAS SAID AS JOSH KELLY AND BAKHRAM MURTAZALIEV ARE KEPT APART AFTER HEATED FACE-OFF
, Fri, 30 Jan 2026Weights From ProBoxTV’s ‘Flores vs. Castillo’ at Live! Casino Hotel Maryland
, Fri, 30 Jan 2026WAPA Deportes Confirmed as Puerto Rican Broadcast Home for Saturday’s Xander Zayas vs. Abass Baraou Title Unification Showdown
, Fri, 30 Jan 2026Legendary Panamanian Juan Carlos Tapia will be inducted into the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame
By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 30 Jan 2026Manny Pacquiao Promotions Announces Additional Matchups for Saturday, February 28 Event at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York
, Fri, 30 Jan 2026SWERVE TV STRIKES MULTI-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS TO EXPAND PREMIUM BOXING CONTENT
, Fri, 30 Jan 2026 |
|
|
|
|
|
