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Lakers Ease To 2-0 Lead

The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 24, 2008

LOS ANGELES - There would be no blown lead in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals. Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers saw to that.

Bryant scored 22 points, Lamar Odom added 20 points and 12 rebounds, and the Lakers took command late in the second quarter to rout San Antonio 101-71 Friday night for a 2-0 lead against the Spurs.

Games 3 and 4 in the best-of-seven series will be played in San Antonio, where the Spurs have a 6-0 record in the postseason and have won 20 of their last 22 games.

Only 14 of the 222 teams to fall behind 2-0 in best-of-seven NBA playoff series have come back to win, including the Spurs in their second-round matchup with the Hornets. But this figures to be a much tougher assignment - San Antonio has to be perfect at home and win a game at Staples Center, where the Lakers are 7-0 in the postseason.

The Lakers had to rally from a 20-point third-quarter deficit to win the opener 89-85, and didn't take their first lead in that game until the final 3 minutes.

They never trailed in Game 2 - the third time in their last four playoff games that happened. After a basket by Tim Duncan enabled the Spurs to forge the only tie, the Lakers scored the final nine points of the second quarter for a 46-37 halftime lead.

SAN ANTONIO (71) - Bowen 3-5 0-0 8, Duncan 6-14 0-4 12, Oberto 2-7 0-0 4, Parker 6-15 1-2 13, Finley 3-9 1-1 8, Ginobili 2-8 3-3 7, Horry 0-5 0-0 0, Vaughn 2-4 0-0 4, Thomas 2-3 0-0 4, Udoka 2-8 0-0 6, Barry 2-4 0-0 5, Stoudamire 0-5 0-0 0. Totals 30-87 5-10 71.

L.A. LAKERS (101) - Radmanovic 2-3 0-0 4, Odom 7-10 6-8 20, Gasol 4-9 2-2 10, Fisher 4-5 3-3 11, Bryant 10-17 1-1 22, Turiaf 0-1 2-2 2, Vujacic 3-9 0-0 7, Farmar 5-7 2-2 14, Walton 2-7 2-2 7, Mbenga 1-2 0-0 2, Ariza 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 39-71 18-20 101.

San Antonio	16	21	20	14	-	71
L.A. Lakers	21	25	28	27	-	101

3-Point Goals-San Antonio 6-23 (Bowen 2-2, Udoka 2-5, Barry 1-2, Finley 1-2, Vaughn 0-1, Parker 0-2, Horry 0-2, Stoudamire 0-3, Ginobili 0-4), L.A. Lakers 5-18 (Farmar 2-4, Walton 1-3, Bryant 1-5, Vujacic 1-5, Radmanovic 0-1). Fouled Out-None. Rebounds-San Antonio 47 (Duncan 16), L.A. Lakers 49 (Odom 12). Assists-San Antonio 20 (Duncan, Parker 4), L.A. Lakers 20 (Bryant 5). Total Fouls-San Antonio 18, L.A. Lakers 15. Technicals-L.A. Lakers defensive three second 2. A-18,997 (18,997).

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