Overtime Thriller in LA!!!

March 22, 2011 - The Lakers gained their 5th win in a row, which makes 13 of 14 since the All-Star break. This was a fast-paced, offensive game the entire night. The final score was 139-137 and it went into TRIPLE OVERTIME. Kobe ended up with 42 points, Lamar Odom had 29 and Gasol added 24.

It was an intense game full of all-stars on both sides of the ball

It was a pretty close game in the first half. I must say, the bench for both of these teams is incredible. I was in awe as I watched the offensive clinic both benches were putting on the entire game. It was close at half, as the Suns went into the locker room up by 5. But the Lakers came back and gained a pretty big lead through the last two quarters, but in the last 5 minutes, the Suns started hitting big shots. Steve Nash was giving crazy assists as well as hitting unremarkable three-pointers. Vince Carter had a chance to win the game with 1 second in regulation left but he missed a long 3. Overtime.

During the end of the first overtime, the Lakers were up 121-118 with about 2 second left. The win was there, but Lamar Odom fouled the Suns' Channing Frye on a three pointer!!! You never do that!!! Anyways, he hit all three free throws so it went into Double Overtime!

Lamar Odom played huge in Bynum's absence

The second overtime was pretty much the same as the teams went back and forth offensively. With about 3 seconds left and the Lakers down 130-128, Gasol went for a shot and got fouled as well! So he hits those two free throws which leads to Triple Overtime!

In the first triple overtime the Lakers have hosted since 1969, they win it in a thriller! Ron Artest had a powerful dunk which set the crowd off and Kobe hit a jumper close to the paint inside with 14 seconds left in the game, giving the Lakers a 4 point lead that the Suns couldn't overcome. What a game!




Matt Barnes is an elite bench player for the Lakers, and will definitely help their 3-peat


My thoughts on this game however, are this. The Lakers got destroyed in fastbreak points. This is a little unsettling as it shows they can't get back down the court to play defense. The Suns went down into transition and hit many threes in the game. But the plus side, the bench of the Lakers is one of the best in the league and I really enjoyed seeing them play. Matt Barnes was huge in the game and Odom is stepping up big in Bynum's absence. Bynum will be back next game as his suspension is over from getting ejected two games earlier. This was a crazy showdown in the West that was full of offense. The Suns are a very good team and I think this triple overtime win by the Lakers showed a lot of heart. Now if they can only play better defense and get back after scoring so they don't give up so many fastbreak points.

The next game is Friday March 25th vs. the Los Angeles Clippers @ the Staples Center of course.