The Los Angeles Lakers mounted a dramatic second-half comeback to record an 89-85 victory over the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference finals opener yesterday.
Trailing by as many as 20 points in the third quarter, the Lakers rode the hot hands of Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol to maintain their perfect home record in the playoffs.
Bryant, the NBA's Most Valuable Player, scored only two points in the first two quarters before coming to life in the second half, finishing with 27 points and nine assists. Gasol added 19 points and seven rebounds.
"This is big for our team to come back from 20 (down) against the defending champs," Bryant told reporters. "Once we got to within 10, we still had the energy to take the lead.
"I can get off any time and in the second half, I did that," said Bryant, who took only three shots in the first half.
Defending NBA champions San Antonio, coming off a Game Seven road victory against the New Orleans Hornets, squandered the chance to secure a key road win in the best-of-seven series.
Tim Duncan led the way for the Spurs with 30 points and 18 rebounds.
"We had a great opportunity. We didn't take advantage of it and it hurts like hell," said San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich.
"We got to dig down deep, forget about this and figure out a way to come out just as aggressively as we did in the first three quarters."
Until the mid-point of the third quarter, San Antonio's stifling defense kept the Lakers in check. But after they stretched the lead to 20 points, Bryant took control.
He hit a jump shot, found Gasol for a lay-up and then hit a three-pointer to start a 14-0 run. Los Angeles held the Spurs to 13 points in the final frame.
"We were in pretty good shape. We had a great lead and had a great chance to win the game and we just didn't play well enough in the fourth quarter," said Spurs guard Tony Parker, who scored 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
Game Two is in Los Angeles on Friday.
(Agencies via Shanghai Daily May 22, 2008)