Lakers slip past Thunder in OT

By JEFF LATZKE Associated Press - 11/4/2009


OKLAHOMA CITY — Ron Artest finally got to experience what it's like to be on the same team when Kobe Bryant finishes off a win.

Bryant scored 31 points including 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.

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.

"When Kobe's out there, he wants it," said Artest, who signed with the Lakers in the offseason. "That's the great thing. He wants it. It's not like I have to really go get it."

Bryant had been fighting through flulike symptoms earlier in the day but his fever went down before the game. He finished 9 for 22 and had seven turnovers, but came through when it counted.

"I've been through a lot worse than this," Bryant said.

Kevin Durant led Oklahoma City with 28 points but airballed a pair of shots that could have given the Thunder the lead in the closing minute of regulation and overtime.

He dribbled the ball to run down the final few seconds of the fourth quarter before coming up empty on a deep 3-pointer from the right wing with 2.7 seconds left, but Sefolosha stole the Lakers' ensuing inbounds pass to send the game to overtime.

Andrew Bynum added 22 points and Artest scored 20.

Jeff Green had 18 points for Oklahoma City. Westbrook and Sefolosha each scored 12.

LAKERS 101, THUNDER 98

L.A. Lakers 32 20 19 19 11 — 101
Oklahoma City 25 26 22 17 8 — 98

L.A. Lakers: Artest 6-8 6-8 20, Odom 6-11 0-2 13, Bynum 10-15 2-4 22, Fisher 4-6 0-0 9, Bryant 9-22 12-14 31, Farmar 0-1 0-0 0, Mbenga 0-0 0-0 0, Powell 2-5 0-0 4, Vujacic 1-2 0-0 2, Brown 0-1 0-0 0, Walton 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 38-73 20-28 101.

OKC: Durant 10-24 8-8 28, Green 6-12 3-4 18, Krstic 3-8 0-0 6, Westbrook 5-12 2-3 12, Sefolosha 5-9 0-0 12, Thomas 4-7 1-2 9, Ollie 2-6 0-0 4, Harden 3-9 2-2 9, Collison 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 38-88 16-19 98.

3-point goals: L.A. Lakers 5-11 (Artest 2-3, Odom 1-1, Fisher 1-2, Bryant 1-3, Farmar 0-1, Brown 0-1), Oklahoma City 6-23 (Green 3-5, Sefolosha 2-5, Harden 1-2, Westbrook 0-3, Durant 0-8). Rebounds: L.A. Lakers 51 (Bynum 10), Oklahoma City 45 (Thomas 11). Assists: L.A. Lakers 19 (Artest 6), Oklahoma City 23 (Westbrook 7). Total fouls: L.A. Lakers 27, Oklahoma City 23. A: 18,203 (18,203).



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Tulsa World Reader Comments
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tulsandn, out in the woods (11/4/2009 12:13:12 PM)
Kevin Durant played like a scared little girl in the 4th qtr & overtime, staring down into the eyes of Ron Artest took away his manhood.... Westbrook, Jeff Green, the rookie Harden, Etan Thomas played great!!!! The best basketball player on the court for OKC was THABO Sefalosha, he played Kobe straight up the entire game.... Kevin Durant played with no heart or extra effort, to me it was a slap in the face to his teammates who played no holds barred basketball....Kevin Durant needs to look in the mirror & decide if he's ready for the real NBA....



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