Kobe Leads Lakers Past Thunder in 99-96 Thriller

On Saturday the Lakers host the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Clippers take on the San Antonio Spurs in back-to-back NBA playoff games at Staples. Then on Sunday the real traffic trouble comes as the NHL's Kings will host the Phoenix Coyotes on the

The smartest fans anywhere are talking hoops in our Lakers-Thunder Game 3 thread. Please join!

By GREG BEACHAM AP LOS ANGELES — Kobe Bryant's perfection at the free-throw line was big for the desperate Lakers. His poise in the fourth quarter was even bigger, and it got Los Angeles back into its second-round series with Oklahoma City.

With their Game 2 collapse still fresh in their minds, the Los Angeles Lakers avoided a sequel with the only game plan they're confident will work against the younger, faster Oklahoma City Thunder. They got slow. They got into the paint.

By Mark Medina After the Lakers' 77-75 Game 2 loss Wednesday to the Oklahoma City Thunder, Kobe Bryant appeared frustrated over not taking the final shot. After Thursday's practice, Bryant instead praised Metta World Peace for passing to an open Steve