NBA Playoff Game 2 Recap: Oklahoma City Thunder 92, Los Angeles Lakers 95 - 04/20/10
Joe Bryant, Kobe 's father, watched his son in person for the first time in five years and enjoyed a celebration hug with his son after the Thunder missed a potential-tying 3-pointer at the closing buzzer.
"It was cool for me, like I was back in high school," Bryant said of having his father in attendance.
Asked if Joe had given him any pre-game advice, Bryant said his father told him, "Make the damn free throws."
Bryant made 13-of-15 free throws and made 12-of-28 shots from the field in 41 minutes on the court, going 6-of-16 in the first half and 6-of-12 in the second half to deny Oklahoma City an upset opportunity.
"It felt good," Bryant said. "They had our attention. We know it's going to be a tough series."
The reigning NBA champions have won twice at home in the best-of-seven first-round series, which continues Thursday and Saturday in Oklahoma City .
"We have to go into a hostile environment where they play with a lot of energy," Bryant said.
"I like that we got the win," Hill said. "It means a lot."
Kevin Durant scored 32 points to lead Oklahoma City , the youngest lineup in the NBA and one still trying to figure how to close out games in which they lead in the fourth quarter, as they did against the Lakers.
"We couldn't make the stops we needed but overall I was pleased with the way we played," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said.
"We gave the effort defensively. We're still trying to figure out how to win some of these close games. I thought our guys played with great pride. The Lakers did what they were supposed to do. They took care of their home court."
Bryant gave the Lakers a 90-88 lead on a jumper with 2:00 remaining and Los Angeles got the ball back when NBA scoring leader Durant was whistled for an offensive foul.
Bryant sank two more free throws with 1:31 remaining to boost the Lakers' lead to 92-88 and Ron Artest forced a turnover to set up a Shannon Brown free throw.
Two Russell Westbrook free throws pulled Oklahoma City within 93-90 and Westbrook blocked a Brown shot to give the Thunder the ball again with 30 seconds remaining.
Jeff Green sank a one-handed jumper to pull the Thunder within a point before Bryant was fouled and sank 1-of-2 from the line to pull the Lakers ahead 94-92 with 15.1 seconds remaining.
Durant missed a 3-point shot and Pau Gasol, fouled going for a rebound, made 1-of-2 free throws to boost the Lakers' lead to 95-92 and Green missed a 3-point try at the buzzer.
The Lakers had seized an early 11-point edge but Oklahoma City ended the second quarter with a 21-8 run that put the Thunder on top 47-45 at half-time.
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