The hometown fans — the real ones, not the Fakers — can take solace in this: It took monster games from Kobe Bryant (34 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists) and Andrew Bynum (37 points and 16 rebounds, winning the battle for the #2 center spot decisively in this one), some hinky officiating (particularly on a phantom foul on Laker forward Matt Barnes that became a clear-path foul on a video review that wasn’t allowed to overturn the initial bad call), and an ocean of missed Griz jumpers (Marc Gasol, O.J. Mayo, and Mike Conley shot a combined 22-65, including 0-13 from three-point range) for the full-strength Los Angeles Lakers to survive a double-overtime game in which the Grizzlies were playing without their two best scorers.
An epic game like this one deserves an epic post-game notebook, but, sadly, the calendar is cruel. I’m leaving early Wednesday morning for a long solo drive to Austin, Texas, for my annual trip to the South by Southwest Music Festival, so my Twitter coverage — check the feed to the right — and this quick post is all I can handle for this one.
As a result of the trip, this space will be on hiatus for the rest of the week — including home games with the Toronto Raptors and Washington Wizards. Hopefully, by the time I’m back, both Gay (concussion) and Randolph (knee) will be back on the court. Either way, I’ll be not-so-rested and ready for a big finish to this compressed season.
