Los Angeles Lakers 99, Oklahoma City Thunder 96 (Thunder lead series, 2-1) Game 1 was the blowout, the startling realization that the Oklahoma City Thunder remained a championship-level force to be reckoned with, even after a week-long layoff. Game 2 was the ugly nail-biter, the one that Los Angeles let get away. Game 3? It wasn't perfect. But it was fantastic, end-to-end playoff basketball. There were quibbles, to be sure. Thunder coach Scott Brooks probably shouldn't have left Derek Fisher try to guard Kobe Bryant after Kobe's entrance in the fourth quarter, Kevin Durant will get criticism for the pass he made (to Serge Ibaka, in the game's third to last possession), and Ibaka will get criticism for the pass he didn't make (back to Durant off an offensive rebound, with the Thunder down three with three seconds left — though Kevin wasn't in a good space to catch the ball at that point), and Kobe Bryant's ability to goad Marc Davis into putting him at the line on a phantom foul late in the fourth quarter. There were mistakes. Kobe, though, earned just about every other trip to the line. He hit double-figure free throw attempts by the end of the third quarter, and did not fall victim to the low percentage looks down the stretch like he did late in Game 2 (save for one instance, that led directly to OKC going up five in the middle of the fourth, as Kobe admired his follow through). One drive and score over both Kendrick Perkins and Serge Ibaka in the fourth probably saved Los Angeles' season. Whine all you want over the Lakers shooting 42 free throws and Kobe hitting 18 of 18, but by my count he earned all but four of those 18 (both on phantom fouls versus Harden), and the Lakers earned this win.

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