Lakers vs. Cavaliers: In-game report

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Cavaliers 102, Lakers 87 (final)

The game turned ugly and the Staples Center fans were the most ugly of all.

The Lakers lost their cool and composure. They were called for five individual technical fouls and had one player ejected from the game.

After two technical fouls were called on the Lakers, the fans threw their foam fingers onto the court, delaying the action for a while with 4:04 left. The fans threw the foam fingers onto the court later in the game as well.

It began when Derek Fisher, who was issued a technical foul in the third quarter, was called for a deliberate pushing foul on Mo Williams.

Then Lamar Odom and Williams exchanged words and both were given technical fouls.

It was Odom’s second, which is an automatic ejection from the game.

The Lakers’ bench was issued a technical foul after Coach Phil Jackson waited too late to put in a substitute for Odom.

Later, Kobe Bryant was given a technical foul.

As for Ron Artest, he had his hands full with LeBron James. Artest fouled out with 5:01 left in the game.

James finished with 26 points, nine assists and four rebounds.

Bryant had 35 points, but he was just 11-for-32 shooting from the field. He also had nine rebounds and eight assists.

Williams had 28 points on eight-for-13 shooting from the field.

Cavaliers 76, Lakers 59 (third quarter)

Not only did the Lakers fall behind by a big margin, but they also lost their composure in a game that required both teams staying into the game.

Derek Fisher and Lamar Odom were each given technical fouls for arguing with the officials over calls.

The Cavaliers used that advantage to open a 20-point lead once again.

The Lakers have been waiting for Andrew Bynum to be more productive. They are still waiting.

By the end of the third, Bynum had just four points.

Cavaliers 51, Lakers 42 (halftime)

When the Lakers fell behind by 19 points with 5:22 left in the second quarter, the fans booed the Lakers as they walked to their bench after Coach Phil Jackson called a timeout.

His team was not playing with any purpose, any drive. The Cavaliers, on the other hand, were playing with energy and a sense of urgency.

The Lakers even dropped into a 20-point hole at 47-27. The fans began to call out any player that missed a shot.

The fans began to implore the Lakers to play defense. But nothing was working for the Lakers in the second quarter.

They weren’t getting back on defense. They weren’t sharing the basketball and they weren’t running the offense.

Even after LeBron James missed a lob dunk, the Lakers still couldn’t seem to find a groove.

Ron Artest was fouled, but made just one of two free throws.

But when Artest made a steal off James, the fans got excited.

Artest was fouled on a driving layup, but he still made just one of two free throws.

The Lakers didn’t fold.

They began to play better defense. They began to hustle and pick up full court. That allowed the Lakers to get to within nine points at the half.

Cavaliers 23, Lakers 19 (first quarter)

The Lakers played the first quarter as if it was just another game. The Cleveland Cavaliers seemed to play as if they had something to prove.

The Lakers made just 39.1% of their shots in the first, the Cavaliers 55.6%

Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with eight points. LeBron James led the Cavaliers with nine points.

During pregame introductions, the fans inside Staples Center booed James when he was introduced. But the fans really let Shaquille O’Neal have their best boos when he was introduced as the starting center for the Cavaliers.

How did O’Neal respond? He just walked over and whispered something into James’ ear.

As for the game, O’Neal scored six points in the first, all on dunks, all off passes.

Pregame
Before this afternoon’s Christmas Day game between the Lakers and the Cleveland Cavaliers at downtown L.A.’s Staples Center, both teams’ locker rooms were basically empty.

Kobe Bryant strolled through on his way to the player’s lounge. Lamar Odom sat at his locker for a brief interview.

LeBron James wasn’t seen much in Cleveland’s locker room. Shaquille O’Neal, Cleveland’s center, walked down the hallway before the game exchanging hugs, but he wasn’t around in the locker room when it was opened.

Both teams were prepared to play the much-hyped game.

-- Broderick Turner

Related: Lakers vs. Cavaliers photos