6/05/2009

Lakers routs Orlando Magic in NBA finals opener

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic 100-75 in Game 1 of the NBA finals on Thursday at Los Angeles Staples Center.

LOS ANGELES, June 4 -- The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic 100-75 in Game 1 of the NBA finals on Thursday at Los Angeles Staples Center, with Kobe Bryant catching the spotlight.

Bryant scored a career finals-record 40 points, 36 over the first three quarters, while Pau Gasol added 16, putting the Lakers at a 9-5 record in the finals.



Mickael Pietrus led Orlando with 14, while Hedo Turkoglu added 13 and Dwight Howard 12, missing five of six shots.

Game 2 of the best-of-seven series will be played Sunday at Staples Center.

The Lakers made 41 of 89 shots, 46.1 percent, while the Magic made 23 of 77, 29.9 percent.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic 100-75 in Game 1 of the NBA finals on Thursday at Los Angeles Staples Center.

After trailing 24-22 at the end of the first quarter and trailing by five points three times in the second quarter, Los Angeles took control of the game by scoring 10 consecutive points over a three minute, four second span midway through the second quarter, taking a 38-33 lead 5:22 before halftime. The streak began with Luke Walton making back-to-back baskets, with Bryant scoring the final six points.

An 8-2 run late in the half gave the Lakers a 51-41 lead. They led 53-43 at the end of the first half, with Bryant scoring 18 points.

Los Angeles ended all doubt about the game's outcome in the third quarter, outscoring the Magic, 29-15, with Bryant scoring 18 points, making six of 11 shots and all six of his free throws.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic 100-75 in Game 1 of the NBA finals on Thursday at Los Angeles Staples Center.

Orlando pulled with nine, 59-50, on Courtney Lee's 3-point basket with 8:20 left in the quarter, but the Lakers scored the next nine points. After Rafer Alston ended that streak by making two free throws, Bryant scored the next seven points, putting the Lakers ahead, 75-52. Bryant's previous finals high was 36.

The customary capacity crowd of 18,997 included actors Jack Nicholson, Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire, California first lady Maria Shriver, legendary tennis champion Billie Jean King and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson.

Teams that have won the opening game of a best-of-seven series have won the series 308 of 392 times, 78.6 percent.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic 100-75 in Game 1 of the NBA finals on Thursday at Los Angeles Staples Center.
(Xinhua)

0 comments: