Lakers’ bench comes through in Game 6 clincher
- Share via
Reporting from Oklahoma City -- All series long, so much had been made about the play of the Lakers’ bench.
All series long, the Lakers’ bench had been under the microscope because it wasn’t delivering, because it had been outplayed by the younger, more athletic, but less experienced Oklahoma City Thunder reserves.
But in Game 6 of the Western Conference first-round playoff series, the Lakers’ bench stepped up big-time, outscoring its counterpart, 30-16.
The bench play of the Lakers helped them win the best-of-seven series, 4-2, and advance to play the Utah Jazz in the conference semifinals, starting Sunday at Staples Center.
Shannon Brown and Lamar Odom were on top of their games, both coming off the bench to provide scoring, defense and rebounding.
“This is a team,” Odom said. “To beat this team, you need something from everybody.”
Brown came up with 11 points. He missed only one of his five shots. He made both of his three-point tries.
Odom had the kind of statistical line the Lakers welcome.
He had nine points, seven rebounds, two assists and three blocked shots.
He was four for eight from the field, one for three from three-point range.
“It was just playing smart, making good decisions, hitting shots,” Odom said.
Brown made a big three-pointer to start the fourth quarter, giving the Lakers a 79-73 lead.
Brown was forced to defend the 6-9 Kevin Durant at times and the super-quick Russell Westbrook at times.
Through it all, Brown just kept working hard.
“This was good for us because adversity makes you better as a team,” Brown said. “We learned we have to fight together if we want to keep advancing.”
Brown had eight points by the half, his shooting a big reason why the Lakers opened a 53-47 lead.
Brown has been playing with a sprained right thumb. He had been taping it up for games.
But in Game 6, Brown didn’t wear the tape and it seemed to help his shot.
“I always talk to him and tell him to just play his game,” Odom said. “In the first half, he was like on fire.”
Odom played all 12 minutes in the fourth quarter.
He didn’t score, but he had four rebounds, two assists and two blocked shots.
Even Luke Walton came off the bench to contribute, scoring five points, getting two rebounds and handing out two assists in 11 minutes.
His 13-foot jumper gave the Lakers an 81-77 lead.
His three-pointer off a pass from Odom gave the Lakers an 84-75 lead.
“They’ve got guys that don’t get the ball and are able to make plays – whether it’s offensively or defensively,” Odom said about the Thunder reserves. “So throughout a basketball game you can still contribute. We’ve got guys also that can play off the ball and still make plays and still contribute.”
twitter.com/BA_Turner
Buy Lakers playoff tickets here
Clicking on Green Links will take you to a third-party e-commerce site. These sites are not operated by the Los Angeles Times. The Times Editorial staff is not involved in any way with Green Links or with these third-party sites.
All things Lakers, all the time.
Get all the Lakers news you need in Dan Woike's weekly newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
