Kobe Bryant had his moments in Thursday night's Game Three loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, especially in the second quarter where he threatened to take control of the game, but Kevin Durant made the bigger statement on this night.
Durant never issued a verbal challenge to Bryant and his Los Angeles Lakers, but Durant's 29 points and 19 rebounds were worth more than any words could express, and likely saved the Thunder from an insurmountable three-game deficit.
Durant had plenty of help, as Russell Westbrook scored 27 points and James Harden added 18, and the Lakers were never able to contain the Thunder's perimeter trio.
Even on a night where all five Lakers' starters reached double figures, the Thunder refused to go away and with the outcome hanging in the balance, Oklahoma City was the team who seized control of the game.
One challenge Durant did take was defending Bryant in the fourth quarter and Durant's height visibly bothered Bryant and forced him into a multitude of questionable shots at the end of the game.
It was a far different scene from two days earlier, where Bryant's 15-point fourth quarter proved to be th ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NBA
Article written by Hadarii Jones
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