Los Angeles, CA - Nets rookie Leo Lai may have blocked the best player in the world and dropped a layup to send the game into overtime at the waning seconds of regulation, but once overtime started, he and the rest of the New Jersey Nets could do absolutely nothing to stop the Lakers.
Two time reigning MVP Kobe Bryant scored 29 points, and had 8 rebounds as well as 5 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks in 35 minutes of play to lead the defending champions over the visiting New Jersey Nets in overtime, 94-87.
Jordan Farmer had 18 points and 9 assists, while Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom each had a double double, 12 points and 11 rebounds for Pau, 12 points and 14 rebounds for the Candy Man. Jeff Green added in 7 points and 7 rebounds for the Lakers while second year player Sun Yue came off the bench for 4 minutes and registered 2 points, 2 assists, 1 rebound, and 1 block.
It was a tightly contested game, with a ton of defense played, as both teams shot in the 30s, with the Nets being 30% and the Lakers 36%. There were a combined total of 115 rebounds, 17 steals, and 18 blocks between the two teams, and only a total of 13 fast break points as each of the teams went to the line for more then 20 times.
"This was just a regular season game, but it felt like a postseason game 7 from the way that both teams played," said Lawrence Frank, head coach of the Nets "They really stepped the intensity level up and showed us why they are the defending champs"
For the Nets, Yao Ming had another specular performance with 21 points, 20 rebounds, and 3 rejections while Devin Harris dropped in 19 points, 7 assists and 2 steals. Sean Williams had another dominating defensive game, with 6 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 blocks.
As mentioned above, Nets Leo Lai tied the game with 3.4 seconds remaining on the clock shortly after blocking Kobe Bryant on the other end to send the game into overtime, the rookie had 14 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks in 24 minutes off the bench, he was 6 for 12 from the field, one of the few players who shot .500 or above in tonight's game, the others being Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, Yao Ming, Joey Dorsey, Sun Yue, and Luke Walton.
However, once in OT, Bryant took over; scoring 8 of his game high 29 points in the extra period, the Black Mamba made sure that the Nets are down, and out.
"There's a reason why Kobe's the MVP, and y'all saw it tonight" said Lai after the game "I've got a long way to go"
Highlights
Lai Blocks Bryant on the defensive end, then blows by him on the other end and sends the game to overtime
Jordan Player of the Game Highlights
What's the name of the song in the Kobe vid? Can't remember.
As for the song, i have no idea also, it's one of 2K9's default songs, i didn't mod anything
Well, that's where the 40 points you crushed the Knicks by came from.. That seriously is a flogging, superb game!
