Kobe Leads Lakers to OT Win

Kobe Bryant's late-game heroics helped an OT comeback against the Portland Trailblazers as the Lakers got a rare 106-101 win at the Rose Garden.

Down by ten with less than six minutes left in regulation, the Lakers fought back to force overtime. With the score 87-80, the Lakers went on a 7-0 scoring run to close the fourth quarter. Kobe was a big part of it as he hit a turn-around fade-away jumper over Rudy Fernandez and then a fadeaway shot over Wesley Matthews to knot the score at 87 with less than five seconds in regulation. The Blazers called a timeout, but LaMarcus Aldridge was unable to hit the game-winning layup, so overtime ensued.

Lamar Odom started off with a three-pointer and the Lakers went on to outscore the Blazers 19-14 in overtime. Kobe Bryant came off a screen and hit a shot over Aldridge with less than thirty seconds left to extend the Lakers lead to five, 102-97. The next possession Aldridge was failed, but bricked both free-throws.

Kobe secured the rebound, was then fouled, and he made both of his shots at the charity stripe. Wesley Matthews scored a layup and Kobe was fouled again, and again made both his free-throws. Andre Miller then tripped over his own feet and threw the ball to Lakers as he was falling into the backcourt, ensuring a Lakers victory.

Player(s) of the Game: Kobe Bryant 37 pts 9 rebs 6 asts 3 stls

Ron Artest 24 pts 6 rebs 4 asts 2 stls

Pau Gasol 18 pts 14 rebs 5 asts 1 blk

Ron Artest played with great energy with some lockdown defense and timely threes, Pau Gasol held Aldridge to just a few points in the final minutes of the game and went to work offensively to force overtime, and KB24 was clutch all night by hitting tough shots and by scoring the Lakers' last eight points.

Highlight of the Game: Joel Pryzbilla airballed a free-throw and Ron Artest banked a free throw, but the best play was by Kobe. With the clock ticking down in the fourth quarter and the Lakers down by two, Bryant went to the left and spun back to his right, stopped, head-faked, pump-faked, faded, and nailed a jumper over Wesley Matthews.

Next Game: Fri vs. Los Angeles Clippers The Lake Show against the Blake Show. Mo Williams might play, but I wonder who Griffin will dunk on this game. My guess is Derek Fisher, because he always tries to take charges, but this time Blake will posterize him like Corey Brewer did last year. But Lakers still get the W.