Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Lakers Give Big Pau to Hawks!

For about six minutes in tonight's game pitting the Los Angeles Lakers and Atlanta Hawks, it looked like the visitors might give the Lakers a game (again). Pau Gasol's first play at Staples Center was not a memorable one as he threw an ill-advised pass intended for Kobe Bryant. The Hawks turned that steal into a bucket and still led 4-2 one minute and 48 seconds into the game. The Lakers then went on a 10-0 run to take a 12-4 lead with eight minutes to play in the quarter. Atlanta then drew within 13-12 with 6:15 to play.

From there though, it was ALL Lakers, all the time for the next 17 minutes or so. The Lakers went on a 56-16 run to take a 69-28 lead with 53 seconds to play in the first half. At the half the Lakers led 73-37. Yes, it was over, and also hard to believe these were the same Hawks who handed the Lakers one of their two losses (97-95) on their recent nine game road trip.

The Lakers cruised from there as the Hawks wouldn't get any closer than 24 points the rest of the way. Kobe and Pau got to sit on the bench the entire fourth quarter as the Lakers won 122-93.

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