Kobe Bryant vs Young Russell Westbrook EPiC Duel | Kobe with 21, Russ with 32-12 | 17/01/2011

Are you saying that he is fouling on a regular basis? He is. He is. Steve, step in any time. I'm going to choose my spots wisely. Derrick Fisher knocking down the three. Fisher trying to go glass. Rebounded by Jeff Green in a collision with Derrick Fisher. Here is Russell Westbrook to the rim. Well, this is what Oklahoma City is going to try to do tonight. Bounced back in yesterday against the Clippers for Andrew Biden. He's struggling with fouls in the previous game against the Mets. Bryant able to solve for the rebound. He's fighting! A tomahawk from Andrew Biden. Kobe Bryant come flying in here. And I haven't seen him get up in a while that high. Look at that one-hand extension. And he looks for the big man who finishes it off. You know, it was interesting talking to Phil Jackson before the game. He said, the way we've got to slow down. From under the basket. He knew he had time to make one more pass. Jeff Green who has picked it up after going through a rocky period about a week and a half ago. That's a big shot for Jeff Green because he traditionally struggles against the size and length of the Lakers. Derrick Fisher knocking down the two. But Green's an important part of this team. And he doesn't score in the paint against Bynum and Gasol. So he's got to knock down some jump shots. Beautiful move by Westbrook off the dribble. They were clobbered by Miami. But recently they turned it with that seven-game win streak. Here's Bryant. And an ocean to shoot a deep three. Gasol. The versatility of Pau Gasol. That time, rather than in the paint, he steps out about 16, 18 feet. Knocks down the jumper. It's a quick release by Kevin Durant. And it's a three-pointer. Phil Jackson telling us as Durant hits again that he has some more blue jerseys. We'll come after the big people. James Harden, second-year man from Arizona State, has come off. What a move by Westbrook. A series of fakes. And here's Bryant. That's his first shot attempt. He thought it was fouled. Westbrook on the open floor. A pass back. Beautiful double pass to Durant. The speed and explosiveness. Take a look at the split with the double team. Then the explosiveness. He moves the ball to his left hand. And then in transition. Yeah, you're right. He moves over and creates the angle. Kobe Bryant back on the floor. He's been a shut-up man to this point. Here's Kobe. Gasol. Number one in the league in free-throw attempts. Number two. Number one in free-throw percentage. Number two in free-throw attempts. Oh, good second effort by Bryant after he was blocked by Cefalosa. So, Bryant with his second bucket of the night. And a foul committed by Durant. Now, Kobe just so good in so many different areas. His penetration with his anticipation. You see the slight little pump fake. He's also the ligament damage that was in there. And he's been playing through a sore right knee. Oh, beautifully done. Russell Westbrook in this first half. Westbrook going all the way. What a move. And then able to put it off glass with some reverse on it. Lakers by one. Cefalosa defending on Bryant. Bryant with the spin. Dumps it off to Gasol. Beautifully done. How about that pass? He had three defenders on him, Kobe, after he came off that screen. Bryant to the rim. He hits. Both teams are over the foul. Watch this pass. Three blue jerseys right there. In between the three, he knows Gasol is right behind him. And then because, as Steve mentioned, he's so excited with the pass, he goes up amongst the three blue jerseys and finishes it. And low in turnover half, though, for the Thunder. Committing only three. Westbrook gets it inside for Baca. Beautifully done again with Westbrook's half minute left in this first half. Bryant working on Cefalosa. Bryant got the step. Bryant with the bucket. The Thunder working the clock down to end the half. Westbrook over Gasol. Yes. This is an unbelievable display of basketball tonight. Off the turnover. It's a three-on-two, and Westbrook able to split right through. I think Kobe, if it's a close game in the fourth quarter, he says he may put Kevin Durant on just as he did the playoffs, but he asks us please don't put Durant as the Kobe stopper. Once he turns the corner on that screen and pops, he's just going to attack the rim anyway. So, Christich not going to get a lot of open looks. Fisher with the open look. Hits the three. Kobe goes right at him, made the turn, and then kicks it out. Shot clock at three. They have to hurry. Bryant steps back and knocks him down. Westbrook's not going to space the floor as a shooter. He's going to get into that paint, but the Lakers defense is surrounding everybody down there. Bryant off the double pump. Kobe's showing a lot of energy here today. Remember yesterday the Lakers lost to the Clippers, and he was very upset after the game. And you can see he's had a bounce in his step tonight. Watch him turn, talk to the bench after the knockdown jumper, and got lost yesterday. They have rescinded the technicals on Blake Griffin and also on Ron Artest. They said Blake Griffin did not instigate it at all, and they actually called Ron Artest a peacemaker, and he had the technical removed. First time we've ever heard that before. And a beautiful move by Westbrook to draw the foul. It's on Fisher. Westbrook with the basket, and he will go to the line. He wants Kobe. Fisher over Westbrook. He thought he was fouled. Clean block says Dick Pavetta. Durant, and that's his first field goal in the last 20 minutes. And then, before they get better season, Tomlinson with the stuff. Here's Shannon Brown for three. Westbrook on the run. Nice pass for Harden. Terrific pass that time. He had Durant running the left lane. Here's Brown firing one up. Rebounded by Ibaka. He's done a good job off the boards. Westbrook accelerates. Westbrook to the bucket. The lead is down to three. We don't get shots in the rhythm of our offense, so we get back in order. Are you starting to feel the effects of six games in nine days? That Kobe looked a little tired there at the end of the quarter. He played a great quarter. He continues to be bothered by the overall annoying analysis of Bizarre as Durant is able to knock it down. Bryant played by Harden. Bryant off the bench to knock down the jumper. 18 points in all just after that slow start where he was not looking for his shot. Harden for three. James Harden drills it from downtown. It's the critical part of the ballgame and they end up with a fadeaway 21-footer. Gasol extends to a 10-point lead and Scott Brooks looks to talk it over. My point is this. They average 15 three-point attempts per game. They're right at the bottom of the league in shooting. They have 20. So do you keep looking to shoot more or do you pull it back out? Gasol makes his shot facing up, but Oklahoma City is not making theirs. The whole game, and they're very good at spacing for shooting, but Oklahoma City does not shoot it well from deep. That's the kind of shot they make, that in-between shot. Westbrook makes the turn on Bryant. And banks it home. Phenomenal shot, but great defense from the Lakers. Hound them inside. That's our advantage. The lead pass for Durant. So the Thunder back within four. Watch the timing on this. Throw the ball to the rim. He points to his teammate. You see Baca catch and finish all in one motion. Throw it up. There's the finish. Westbrook finishes as the higher man with 32. Durant, 24. Lakers with five players in double figures. 21 apiece for Gasol and Bryant. 16 for Odom, season-high 15 for Fisher, and 10 for Bynum.