2012 NBA Playoffs Western Conference Semifinals Game #4
#2 Oklahoma City Thunder at #3 Los Angeles Lakers
Thunder leads Best of Seven Series 2-1
Staples Center – Los Angeles, California
Saturday, May 19, 2012, 10:35 pm Eastern, TV: TNT
Opening Line: Oklahoma City -1
Current Line: Oklahoma City -1
Opening Total: 188 1/2
Current Total: 188 1/2
Opening Money Line: Thunder -110 / Lakers -110
Current Money Line: Thunder -120 / Lakers +100
Friday night, the Lakers were down 2-0 to the Oklahoma City Thunder, and faced a must win situation in game 3 at home. The game was back and forth all night, but in the end the Lakers prevailed 99-96 to get back into the series. The Thunder won easily in game 1 119-90, and closed game 2 on a 9-0 run to win 77-75. Both games were in Oklahoma City.
Now the two teams will play game 4 back to back, because the Staples Center is hosting 6 playoff games in 4 days between the Lakers, Clippers, and NHL’s
Kings. The Lakers and Thunder and Spurs and Clippers will all play games 3 and 4 back to back in order to fit in all the games.
In game 3 Friday night between the Lakers and Thunder, both teams were fantastic at the free throw line. The Thunder made 26 of 28 free throws, while the Lakers were 41 out of 42. That disparity at the free throw lane was the difference in the game, and Oklahoma City had the edge in every other category. Their were some dubious calls against both sides, and neither team was happy with the officiating.
The Thunder, coached by Scott Brooks, were up 92-87 with 2:55 left, but were unable to close it out. The Lakers closed on a 6-2 run to pull out the win. Thunder forward Kevin Durant scored 31 points on 12-23 shooting. He also had 5 rebounds. Russell Westbrook had 21 points and added 9 rebounds. James Harden scored 21 points with 4 rebounds and 3 assists off the bench. Serge Ibaka had 8 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 blocks. The rest of the Thunder had only 15 points combined.
As a team, the Thunder were 33 for 83 from the field (39.8%) and 4-17 from 3 point range. The Thunder had 37 rebounds, 13 assists, and 9 turnovers. OKC scored 23 fast break points, and 40 fast break points.
All five starters scored in double figures for the Lakers, coached by Mike Brown. Kobe Bryant led all scorers with 36 points, and also added 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals. He was only 9-25 from the field, but made up for it by making all 18 of his free throws. Andrew Bynum had 15 points, and added 11 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 blocks. He was only 2-13 from the field, but made 11 of 12 free throws. Pau Gasol added 12 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, a steal, and 2 blocks. Ramon Sessions also scored 12 points with 4 assists. It was more points than he had scored in the first two games combined. Steve Blake added 12 points off the bench and also had 8 rebounds. Metta World peace had 10 points and 2 blocks.
As a team the Lakers were 27 for 70 from the field (38.6%) including 4-11 from 3 point range. LA had 44 rebounds, 20 assists, and 15 turnovers. The Lakers had 7 fast break points and 30 points in the paint.
Oklahoma City is 38-35 ATS and the total is 34-39 this season. Los Angeles is 33-43 ATS and the total is 41-34-1 this season. The favorite is 9-4 ATS in the last twelve in this series.
The Thunder are 4-1-1 ATS in road games, 3-1-1 against teams with winning records, overall, against Western Conference teams, and in road games against teams with winning home records,15-6 as a favorite of 4.5 points or less, 35-16-1 as a road favorite of 4.5 points or less, 58-28-1 after a straight up loss, 2-5 as a playoff favorite, and 1-3-1 against Pacific teams.
The Lakers are 9-4 ATS as an underdog of 4.5 points or less, 13-6 as a home underdog of 4.5 points or less, 5-13-1 at home, 7-19 after a straight up win, 2-7 as a playoff underdog, 1-1-1 in conference semifinals, 1-6 in Saturday games, and as a playoff underdog of 4.5 points or less.
The Laker starters all played at least 28 minutes, and Bryant, Bynum, Gasol, and Peace all played around 40 minutes last night. The Lakers also only used 8 players last night. The Thunder used 10 players. Durant played 41 minutes, and Westbrook played 35 minutes. No other Thunder player played more than 31 minutes. The younger and deeper Thunder are better equipped to handle the back to back. I don’t know what the Lakers will have left in the tank. OKC wins to take a commanding 3-1 series lead.
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