The New Orleans Hornets didn’t expect Pau Gasol to toss up a 3-pointer from the corner any more than the Lakers star’s growing chorus of critics expected him to make it.
Gasol stunned them all by draining the shot, then scored twice more during a key fourth-quarter surge that helped secure a 100-86 victory Friday night and put Los Angeles in control of the first-round playoff series.
“It’s funny how a shot can kind of turn the momentum around for him when he’s had a hard time making shots around the basket and in the paint — and he knocks down a 3,” said Kobe Bryant, who led the Lakers with 30 points. “That kind of got him going.”
The win gave the Lakers a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series, with Game 4 in New Orleans on Sunday. Just as important, the performance re-established Gasol as one of the Lakers’ primary scoring threats following two poor outings. He finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
“It was just about playing my game and being assertive and being comfortable out there,” Gasol said. “Don’t try to overthink it. Don’t try to think about the last play. Just try to make the right play. It was a much better game on my part.”
WRITTEN BY STATS LLC and The Associated Press & FULL STORY HERE
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