LOS ANGELES — On a day that saw Metta World Peace
resurrect Ron Artest, the Lakers came back from the near-dead to grab a crucial
win at Staples Center.
With Kobe Bryant hitting his usual array of clutch shots and an unexpected
contribution from seldom-used backup Jordan Hill, LA beat the
conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder 114-106 in double-overtime.
However, World Peace wasn’t around for most of the 3-hour,
10-minute contest.
Following a dunk at the 1:39 mark of the second quarter that brought the Lakers
to within one point at 48-47, World Peace inexplicably threw a vicious elbow, knocking
James Harden to the ground and earning a Flagrant 2 foul. World Peace, who later
said it was "an accident," was ejected. Harden missed the rest of the
game with a concussion.
With OKC leading by 18 points with 26.6 seconds to go in the
third quarter, the game looked like it was over. It would have completed the
season sweep, three games to none, and put the Lakers in serious danger of
losing the Pacific Division title to the Clippers.
However, it was Hill to the rescue. Hill seemed long forgotten at the end of
the Laker bench since he was acquired from Houston along with Christian Eyenga
for Derek Fisher at the trade deadline. Showing why Hill was considered enough
of a prospect to be drafted eighth overall by the New York Knicks in the 2009
draft, Hill had 14 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks to help the Lakers to
the victory.
The 6-10, 235-pound center was also outstanding defensively,
clogging up the middle and helping hold Kendrick Perkins and Nick Collison to a
combined 10 points. Hill ended up with a remarkable +27 in the +/- category,
and kept starter Andrew Bynum glued to the bench for the entire fourth quarter
and both overtimes.
In the quirky world of Bynum, you might have expected a verbal barrage about
him missing the game's concluding periods, but Bynum said it was the right
thing to do.
"I wasn't playing well," Bynum said, "and (Jordan) was playing
well. I think the coach made the right move keeping him in the game."
Hill was grateful to finally get his chance to star, especially in a game with
such huge consequences.
"I knew it wasn't going to be easy breaking into the rotation when I got
here." Hill said, "I mean, this is the Lakers and team chemistry was
already set, and it was definitely frustrating. Coming from Houston where I was
playing a lot, to (hardly) playing at all was tough. But I tried to stay ready,
stay humble and do the best I could.
"Today, I knew I could help the team win. I came out there with a lot of
enthusiasm, energy, ran the floor and scored when needed. I also played defense
when I needed to, and I helped the team win."
With World Peace likely facing a multiple-game suspension and hefty fine for
his attack on Harden, does Hill feel like he's earned a chance to fill World
Peace's role?
"Oh, man, I don't know about that," said Hill," but whenever
coach needs me, I'll go out there and do whatever I have to do.
"I'm sad that (Metta might be suspended); it was just a mistake. Things
happen in an intense game, and you can definitely picture something (physical)
happening in a game like that. But we just have to keep moving forward with
it."
And the man leading the way, as always, will be the indomitable Bryant, who
after going 3 of 14 in the first three quarters, scored 17 points in the fourth
quarter and double-overtime, including two big 3-pointers in the fourth, twice
giving the Lakers a lead with less than a minute to play in regulation.
Kobe said it was critical for the Lakers to come up with a big come-from-behind
win going into the playoffs.
"It was very important for us to have one like that," Bryant said. "We
really haven't had a (large) deficit that we've (overcome) successfully,
especially against such a great team. You've got to keep chipping away and have
the poise to get back in the game. Today (we did)."
NOTES: Steve Blake had an outstanding game, connecting on 3-of-5 3-pointers
and scoring 13 points. Starting point guard Ramon Sessions remained on the
bench for all but 3:52 of the fourth quarter and overtime due to Blake's
effectiveness. "I felt really good out there," Blake said. "I've
had trouble finding my rhythm at certain points this season, but it's back now
at the right time."
The Lakers end their regular season Thursday night in Sacramento. If things
remain as they are, LA will open the playoffs as the Pacific Division champs
and the No. 3 seed in the West, likely playing Denver in the first round. ... Pau
Gasol was one assist short of a triple double. He scored 20 points, grabbed 14
rebounds and had nine assists.
