2012 NBA Playoffs Western Conference Semifinals Game #2
#3 Los Angeles Lakers at #2 Oklahoma City Thunder
Wednesday, May 16, 2012, 9:35 pm Eastern, TV: TNT
Chesapeake Energy Arena – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Opening Line: Oklahoma City -7 1/2
Current Line: Oklahoma City -8
Opening Total: 195
Current Total: 195 1/2
Opening Money Line: Thunder -350 / Lakers +290
Current Money Line: Thunder -450 / Lakers +370
Many thought the Oklahoma City Thunder would be rusty after they swept the defending champion Dallas Mavericks and didn’t play for 9 days. That didn’t appear to be the case as they crushed the Los Angeles Lakers 119-90 in game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals Monday night. The Lakers were extended to game 7 by the Denver Nuggets and the series didn’t end until Saturday night in Los Angeles. The Lakers had to fly to Oklahoma City for a Monday game, so fatigue might have been an issue in game 1. It will only get worse, as games 3 and 4 are scheduled back to back Friday and Saturday in LA.
Game One was the first meeting between the two teams since Lakers forward Metta World Peace (formerly known as Ron Artest) elbowed Thunder guard James Harden in the face late in the regular season. World Peace was suspended 7 games, and returned for game 7 against Denver in the first round. In an effort to get into the Thunder’s head, World Peace fanned the flames by talking trash about the incident. When asked if he would shake Harden’s hand, World Peace said he “doesn’t shake substitute’s hands.” Of course Harden isn’t your typical bench player as he was the NBA sixth man of the year. Peace also accused Harden of flopping and embellishing after the incident. Needless to say World Peace was booed lustily by the raucous Oklahoma City crowd.
The Lakers jumped out to an early 6 point lead, but the Thunder went on a 19-7 run and never looked back in the rout. Oklahoma City was up 59-44 at halftime and opened the third quarter on a 15-2 run to put the game out of reach. At one point Oklahoma City led by as many as 35 points. The biggest difference in the game was turnovers. During the regular season, OKC led the league in turnovers per game with over 16. However, the Thunder only turned the ball over 4 times in the game one rout.
The Lakers, coached by Mike Brown, were 35/81 from the field (43.2%) and 7/16 from 3 point range (43.8%). LA made 13 of 15 free throws. The Lakers had 43 rebounds, 14 assists, and 15 turnovers. The Lakers had no fast break points, but had 44 points in the paint.
Kobe Bryant scored 20 points, and added 3 rebounds, and 2 assists. Kobe was 7 for 18 from the field including 1 for 3 on three pointers. Andrew Bynum had 20 points and 14 rebounds. World Peace had 12 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and a steal. He made two early 3 pointers within the first two minutes of the game. Pau Gasol had 10 points and 7 rebounds. The Laker bench scored only 26 points.
The Thunder, coached by Scott Brooks, were 44/83 from the field (53%) and 7/17 on three point shots (41.2%). Oklahoma City made 24 of 29 free throws. The Thunder had 41 rebounds and 20 assists. OKC had 13 fast break points and 48 points in the paint.
Russell Westbrook had 27 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists, and 2 steals. He was 10/15 from the field. Kevin Durant had 25 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists. Fifteen of his points were scored when World Peace was guarding him. Harden scored 17 points on 4 of 11 shooting. He did make all 9 of his free throw attempts. No other Thunder player scored more than 8 points. Center Kendrick Perkins re-aggravated a hip flexor he suffered during the Dallas series. He is a game time decision for game 2.
Oklahoma City is 38-33 ATS and the total is 33-38 this season. Los Angeles is 31-43 ATS and the total is 41-32-1 this season. The favorite is 8-3 ATS in the last eleven in this series. Oklahoma City is 6-2 at home against Los Angeles.
The Lakers are 2-5 ATS as an underdog, 6-16 on one day rest, 1-4 in road games, and as a road underdog, 5-0 in Wednesday games, and as a road underdog of 5-10.5 points, 1-6 as an underdog, 0-6 after a straight-up win, 0-4 in conference semifinal games, and 0-5 after a cover.
The Thunder are 2-5 ATS overall, in Western Conference games, 3-9 against teams with winning records, 1-4 as a favorite, as a home favorite, as a playoff favorite, at home against teams with losing road records, and after scoring 100 points or more, and as a favorite of 5-10.5 points, including 0-5 at home, and 0-4 at home.
I don’t think the Lakers will get blown out by 30 points again tonight. Kobe Bryant will not allow that to happen. However, the Lakers simply have no answer for Russell Westbrook. Plus, the Thunder are younger and more athletic than the veteran Lakers. The Thunder win again but the Lakers keep it much closer.
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