Lakers Lose Fifth Straight Game

by terah on 11. Apr, 2011 in Featured

Los Angeles, California, USA (NEWSTABULOUS) – After trailing most of the game, the Los Angeles Lakers lost their fifth game in a row to the youngest team in the NBA, Oklahoma City Thunder, 120-106 Sunday night.

The two time defending champions might fall all the way to the fourth seed in the Western Conference, if they don’t win their last few games of the regular season.

The Lakers haven’t lost this many games in a row since 2006-07, in the last season before Pau Gasol joined the teamed when they failed seven straight.

This was a fourth win of a streak for the Thunder and their first against the Lakers on the road since March 12, 2006.

Lead scorer for the Thunder was Kevin Durant with 31 points and Russell Westbrook totaled 26.

This win moved the Thunder a game behind the Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks with two remaining in the race for the No. 2 seed. Durant said:

“This was a step in the right direction, but we want to get to something bigger, but it was kind of a statement win for us.”

Kobe Bryant had 31 points along with Pau Gasol’s 26 points for the Lakers, who led by as many as five early in the fourth quarter and by one with 3:10 to go. The Thunder was able to close in on a 16-2 run.

Leading by as many as 12 points, The Thunder led the entire first half. They shot 62 percent from the floor and made 6 of 9 3-point shots with 14 of 15 free throws.

The game was intense with four technical fouls being handed out, some belonging to Bryant and Kendrick Perkins. After this, Bryant went on to score seven of the Lakers’ next nine points boosting their energy off a 20-11 run that ended the half with them trailing 66-64. The Lakers gave up 66 points in the first half, their most in a half this season. Bryant explains:

“We’re just playing horrible defense right now. We’re just making too many mistakes…The mistakes that we’re making are correctable and a good practice session will correct that.”

After a technical fouled was called on Thabo Sefolosha, Bryant’s made free throw tied up the game and Derek Fisher’s jumper, giving them their first lead of the game, 76-74, halfway through the third quarter.

With Bryant scoring seven in a row to give the Lakers their last leading run, both teams exchanged leads throughout the fourth quarter. Durant and Westbrook had a combined nine of the Thunder’s last 16 points of the game.

Oklahoma City coach, Scott Brooks said:

“The fourth-quarter defense was the best as we could possibly play against one of the best teams in basketball…Anytime you can beat the Lakers, it’s a good win.”

The Thunder faces the Kings in Sacramento on Monday and the Lakers will play the San Antonio Spurs at the Staples Center on Tuesday.

photo: thenewschronicle.com