Lakers knock out Thunder on Gasol's tip-in

[May 01, 2010]  OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A series that was all about Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant ended up being decided by the superstar who got lost in the shuffle.

Pau Gasol swooped in to tip in Bryant's missed jumper with a half-second left and the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers survived a late comeback effort by Oklahoma City to eliminate the Thunder 95-94 in Game 6 of the first-round playoff series on Friday night.

"Pau didn't quit on the play," said Bryant, who finished with 32 points. "He just kept playing. ... He was right there to follow it up. Obviously, he saved the game for us."

Gasol pumped both his fists in celebration after his basket, and Los Angeles could finally exhale after Russell Westbrook missed a desperation 3-pointer at the final buzzer for Oklahoma City.

But not for too long.

The top-seeded Lakers face a quick turnaround before facing fifth-seeded Utah in Game 1 of the second round on Sunday in Los Angeles.

"It's just sweet to win a ball game no matter what and to be able to close these guys out that were playing really, really well against us," Gasol said.

The Lakers were nearly pushed to the limit by eighth-seeded Oklahoma City, which won only 23 games last season before a 27-win improvement that was the best in the NBA. The Thunder climbed out of a seven-point hole with a 10-0 run in the fourth quarter, but were held without a point over the final 2 1/2 minutes.

Durant led the Thunder with 26 points, making up for his 5-for-23 shooting by making 14 of 15 free throws. Westbrook had 21 points and nine assists. The two combined to score every point in the rally that put Oklahoma City up 94-91 but then couldn't close out the game.

"I left it all out there every game for my team and no matter how bad I shot, I always came out there and played hard and tried to do other things to help my team win," Durant said. "So, I can live with myself knowing that I came out there and gave it my all every game."

After missing 17 of his first 20 shots, Durant broke through with a 3-pointer from the right wing that ignited the Thunder's comeback. Westbrook followed with a jumper, and his three-point play off a putback of his own miss put Oklahoma City ahead 92-91 with 3:04 to play.

Durant added a driving layup, and Bryant answered with an 18-foot jumper from the left side to make it 94-93 with 2:12 left. It then took Los Angeles five chances to deliver the knockout punch.

The series had turned in the Thunder's favor after Durant shut down Bryant in the fourth quarter of Game 3, sparking back-to-back wins by Oklahoma City. Los Angeles countered in Game 5 by having Bryant guard Westbrook, a dynamic second-year point guard.

Both matchups resurfaced in Game 6 but neither proved to be as crucial as Gasol's 18th rebound.

"Unfortunately, Gasol was in the right place at the right time," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. "We didn't put a body on him. That's just something that we've talked about all series long. You've got to hit them first. The ball went right into his hands.

"They got a good break but he put himself in that position. He attacked the offensive glass."

The extended series took its toll on a Los Angeles squad that already was nursing more than its fair share of injuries -- including Bryant's sore knee, ankle and index finger.

Andrew Bynum played the second half with a brace on his right knee after he hyperextended it earlier in the game, and he said he'd have an MRI on it Saturday. Lamar Odom had a brace on his right knee, too, and Ron Artest sported a modified T-shirt with padding on his left shoulder that's gotten a workout against Durant, the youngest player to win the NBA scoring title.

Yet they still found a way to advance.

"They're the best team in basketball," Brooks said, "until somebody proves that they're not."

[Associated Press; By JEFF LATZKE]

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