The Lakers came back from down 18 points to beat the Thunder in double overtime by the score of 114-106 on Sunday afternoon. Led by the mental toughness of Kobe Bryant and the strong play of Pau Gasol, who provided 20 points and 14 rebounds, the Lakers proved they could compete with the top teams in the league with the thrilling victory. Let's head to Los Angeles to check in on the latest news and headlines at the Staples Center.
- The Lakers solidified their standing as the third seed in the Western Conference playoffs with their victory over the Thunder, writes Kevin Ding of The Orange County Register. The team will officially be able to claim the Pacific Division title with a victory over the Kings on Thursday or a Clippers loss. If the Lakers finish third, they will most likely play the Mavericks or the Nuggets in the first round with a matchup against the Thunder seemingly to follow.
- Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Times says Jordan Hill was a pleasant surprise for the Lakers on Sunday as he provided a spark off the bench for the squad along with an impressive stat line. Prior to Sunday, Hill had only received garbage minutes with the Lakers before scoring 14 points and grabbing 16 rebounds in an effort that will lead to more playing time for the former Arizona star. Acquired from the Rockets at the trade deadline in the deal that temporarily sent Derek Fisher to Houston, Hill was originally a lottery pick by the Knicks in the 2009 NBA Draft.
- Metta World Peace issued an apology to James Harden and the Thunder during a short statement to the media after the game, writes Brian Kamenetzky of ESPNLosAngeles.com. While World Peace seemed genuinely contrite for what he described as an accident in which he was caught up in the moment, the Lakers forward wil likely be suspended for his actions. We asked earlier this evening if the Lakers will face an early exit from the playoffs if World Peace faces a lengthy suspension.