National Basketball Association

Age only a number with Lakers

Published Jan. 17, 2011 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Ooohs and aaahs are the currency of appreciation, and each time Blake Griffin bulled his way to the hoop and each time Russell Westbrook blazed a trail to the basket, the crowd at Staples Center during the past two days announced its approval.

Basketball might be a game for the young and spry, but it is a game that is often won by those with guile and grit.

The Lakers, after frittering away a double-digit lead against the Clippers on Sunday, made sure not to do the same Monday in holding off Oklahoma City, 101-94. They won by playing to their strength — their experience.

Derek Fisher, their 36-year-old point guard, had a rare offensive outburst, scoring a season-high 15 points (and also drawing a key charge).

Ron Artest, 31, continued his lockdown defense on the high-scoring Kevin Durant, making the 22-year-old’s 24 points come at a high cost on 8-of-24 shooting. Artest also handed out five assists.

And Lamar Odom, 31, and Pau Gasol, 30, earned measures of redemption the day after Kobe Bryant said the Lakers got “punked” by Griffin. Odom had 16 points and seven rebounds off the bench while Gasol scored 21, blocked three shots and also had seven boards.

No country for old men?

Perhaps, but it can be for a basketball team.

“There are very few teams, with the exception of maybe the Celtics, that I can think of that experience-wise can even come close to matching up (with the Lakers),” Fisher said. “It makes a huge difference. What you can’t do in speed or athleticism or quickness, having been through the battles and the experiences and the adversity and the situation, it helps you keep the type of composure and poise you need to win big games.”

The Lakers, after squandering a 12-point, third-quarter lead against the Clippers, nearly had a 15-point lead evaporate against the Thunder. Oklahoma City closed within four points but, rather than wheezing to the finish, the Lakers held firm by holding the Thunder scoreless during the final 2:09.

It was the Lakers’ 10th win in a row over the Thunder in Los Angeles, and it provided them with what might have been their signature victory of the season. Oklahoma City (27-14) had won four in a row, including wins over Dallas and Orlando.

The Lakers (31-12) won by surviving an onslaught by Westbrook, who had 32 points and 12 assists — and might have had more if the Thunder had made more than 2 of 22 3-pointers.

Durant, who was held to 35 percent shooting by Artest in the playoffs last year, was not quite ready to give him credit for a 3-for-15 second half.

“I got the ball in position where I wanted to get,” Durant said. “I missed ‘em. I missed ‘em. I’d be honest with you — if they were playing great defense on me, I would tell you. But I got the ball where I wanted to get it. It just didn’t go down for me. It happens like that.”

Whether it was the loss to the Clippers, or the presence of the Thunder — who pushed them to six games in the playoffs last spring — the Lakers put forth one of their more inspired efforts.

“They weren’t happy about the loss last night,” Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. “I’m sure that was a motivation of some sort.”

This was also the first time the Lakers had seen Oklahoma City since last spring.

While the Lakers dragged themselves into the playoffs last year, losing seven of their last 11, they were still the top seed and, everyone presumed, still the Lakers. At least, until Jackson opened his mouth before the series with Oklahoma City started, observing that Durant was afforded too much respect by referees.

That earned Jackson a $35,000 fine and — more significantly — set off alarm bells.

This was a tactic — planting a seed with referees — that Jackson usually reserved for series that meant something. It was taken as a sign that he was worried about the Lakers.

In reality, he was worried about the Thunder.

As the series went on, it was apparent why. Oklahoma City’s exuberance, fearlessness and the fact that Westbrook went through the Lakers like they were pylons made the series a headache for the Lakers. If Gasol’s tip-in at the buzzer didn’t fall to end Game 6, there would have been a seventh game, an uncomfortable prospect for anyone but the Thunder.

It was clear what the series did for the Lakers.

Bryant, his knee drained, felt rejuvenated and so did the Lakers. They won their next six playoff games on their way to beating Boston for another title.

“Our offensive execution was what had to improve, and I think the series against Oklahoma helped us think it out so we could act it out in the later series,” Jackson said.

But what did it do for Oklahoma City?

“Playing against the best team in basketball, you learn a lot of things about yourself as a team, as a player, as a coach and we did,” Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. “We knew going into that the Lakers were very physical and how can we attack that physicality. We fought every game. We never looked at the series that we were just going to be there and be happy and move on after four games. We went in hoping that we’d win the series. Our guys fought and battled.”

They did so again on Monday. But if the Lakers have lost a step, they did not lose a game.