Philippines, 02 Jul 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


NBA WEST SEMIS - Lakers outlast Thunder, take Game 3


PhilBoxing.com




SAN FRANCISCO -- There's no place like home.

After losing the first two games of the Western Conference semifinals in Oklahoma, the Los Angeles Lakers returned to the friendly confines of the Staples Center Friday night and beat the Thunder in Game 3, 99-96, to cut their series deficit to 2-1.

Again, the Lakers struggled shooting the ball --- just 27-for-70 from the field and 4-for-11 from three-point range. But in a tight battle that featured 10 ties and 10 lead changes, the Lakers had a massive edge from the free throw line which proved fatally decisive for the Thunder.

Oklahoma connected 26-for-28 free throws while Los Angeles attempted 42 freebies and made 41, including six in the final 33.8 seconds to put the game away.

"You're not going to get a better look than a free throw against these guys," said head coach Mike Brown whose Lakers trailed 92-87 with 2:54 remaining in the final stanza.

Kobe Bryant had 36 points, seven rebounds and six assists for the Lakers, who narrowly avoided an 0-3 series hole which nobody in NBA playoffs history had ever come out of.

Five other Lakers finished with double figures in points. Andrew Bynum had 15 points while Pau Gasol notched 12. Both 7-footers combined for 22 rebounds and clogged the middle against the Thunder slashers and penetrators.

Ramon Sessions and Steve Blake took turns manning the point for the Lakers and they tallied 12 points apiece. Metta World Peace, formerly Ron Artest, had 10 points while alternately defending Thunder stars Kevin Durant and James Harden.

DURANT led the Thunder with 31 points on 12-for-23 shooting, but he missed a contested 3 that could have forced overtime. Durant also had five turnovers for Oklahoma, which shot just 33 of 83 from the field and a miserable 4 of 17 above the 3-point arc.

Durant's sidekick, point guard Russell Westbrook, had a quiet 21 points, nine rebounds and one assist. Harden finished strong with 21 while Serge Ibaka ended up with 9 points and 11 rebounds.

"We put them on the line. We can't do that. Down the stretch, you have to defend them without fouling and rebound the basketball. Unfortunately, we came up short," Oklahoma Thunder head coach Scott Brooks told the Associated Press.

Game 4 is scheduled at the Staples Center, a rare back-to-back postseason duel. The younger Thunder guns for a 3-1 lead while the Lakers hope to even things up 2-2 befrore heading back to Oklahoma for Game 5 on Monday night. (Joan Secuya-Medida)


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joan Secuya-Medida.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Team USA Earns Three Wins on Day Two of World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
    , Wed, 02 Jul 2025
  • Women's Boxing Champion Signs with Combate Global, Still Aims For WBC Absolute Gold
    , Wed, 02 Jul 2025
  • Sanman Boxing Presents Hard-Hitting Prospect Abubakar Yanon Set to Challenge for Philippine Boxing Federation Flyweight Title in Malungon, Sarangani Province
    , Wed, 02 Jul 2025
  • Boxing Returns to Tropicana Atlantic City, July 25
    , Wed, 02 Jul 2025
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 30 June 2025: Zurdo Outpoints Dorticos, Keeps WBA/WBO Cruiser Titles; Mbilli Stops Sulecki in 1; Wins by Kuroki, Wilder and Jake Paul
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 01 Jul 2025
  • IIEE Titans secured Finals in BPBL, IIEE Chessmasters retain on top level in Bundesliga
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 01 Jul 2025
  • MARIO BARRIOS LAS VEGAS MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES
    , Tue, 01 Jul 2025
  • CATTERALL AND EUBANK LAY THEIR 'CARDS ON THE TABLE' AHEAD OF MANCHESTER SHOWDOWN
    , Tue, 01 Jul 2025
  • Dumadag holds chess tourney
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 01 Jul 2025
  • Manny Pacquiao's Case for the Greatest of All Time
    By Ace Freeman, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • DavNor Adventure Race 2025 set July 2
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • Gumila rules Antipolo rapid chess tilt
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • FULL CIRCLE AT WILD CARD: Jhay Otamias’ Tribute to a Fighter and a Fanbase
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • Vince Paras Wins by 4th Round KO Over Sarawut Thawornkham to Capture the IBF Pan Pacific Super Flyweight Title
    , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • Team USA's Quest for Gold Set in Stone at World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
    , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • SBA SEASON 2 DRAFT UNVEILS RISING STARS AND STRATEGIC MOVES AS TEAMS COMPLETE THEIR ROSTERS
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • Filipino Elwin Retanal wins Saudi rapid chess meet
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • Jake Paul Earns Boxing Legitimacy with Dominant Decision Over Julio Cesar Chávez Jr.
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 29 Jun 2025
  • Zurdo Ramirez Defends Cruiserweight Crowns with Unanimous Decision Over Dorticos
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 29 Jun 2025
  • Vince Paras Faces Sarawut Thawornkham Today at Venue 88 in Gensan
    , Sun, 29 Jun 2025
  • USA Elite High Performance Team Sets Sights on Gold at World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
    , Sun, 29 Jun 2025
  • Alekhine Nouri bags silver in blitz
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 29 Jun 2025
  • Paul vs. Chavez Jr: Can Julio Derail Jake Paul?
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Dr. KO: Christian Mbilli Stops Maciej Sulecki in 1
    , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • GOLDEN BOY SIGNS UNDEFEATED MIDDLEWEIGHT BLUE-CHIP PROSPECT AMARI JONES
    , Sat, 28 Jun 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.