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Some games are won. Other games are not lost. Tonight, the Lakers experienced the latter.
LA ended the evening with more points than their opponents, beating the Brooklyn Nets by the final score of 99-94, but the end of the game was an exercise in futility for both teams. The offenses were just painful to watch down the stretch, and when you consider how much of those possessions were utilized by formerly great players Pau Gasol, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, the whole exhibition had a real Sr. PGA tour vibe to it. You could tell these guys used to be great, but that they just aren't capable of doing what they are used to be capable of doing. With the score tied and four minutes left to play, both teams went scoreless for 2.5 minutes until an awful Paul Pierce pass was intercepted by Wes Johnson for a break away dunk that would put the Lakers ahead for good. From there, the Lakers needed only hit their free throws to collect a victory. LA was not punished for failing to score in a half court set in the final 4.5 minutes of the game.
Of course, that this contest was close in the first place was the result of some sloppy play from the men in purple and gold black. Early in the 2nd quarter, the Lakers jumped out to a 27 point lead behind a scorching Jordan Farmar and a Brooklyn team that, quite frankly, looks really, really awful. They were so bad, in fact, that you might forgive the Lakers for thinking they could take their foot off the gas pedal, which LA visibly did from the midway point of the 2nd quarter. Brooklyn made a run behind some Joe Johnson three pointers and the excellent efforts of Mirza Teletovic and they brought the halftime deficit down to 14 points. Brooklyn whittled another 5 points off the lead in the 3rd, setting up the two way parade of fail that was the end game.
But hey, a win is a win, and a win on the road on the second night of a back-to-back is something to be celebrated. The Lakers are once again back at the .500 mark with one game left (in Detroit) on this quick Eastern Conference roadtrip.
Happy Thanksgiving, y'all.