The Mavericks met the Lakers in Los Angeles for a second-round series and the first playoff meeting between all-star players Dirk Nowitzki and Kobe Bryant.
Debate has sprung around the league as to which player is better at this point in his career. In the TNT pregame show, Charles Barkley proclaimed that there, “is nobody on the planet that can guard Dirk”.
Steve Kerr echoed this statement during his live play-by-play announcing.
However, there still remains the ever-present threat of Kobe Bryant, the Black Mamba. Kobe has a reputation in the NBA as the premiere closer in basketball.
This series should be the perfect litmus test to measure these two players out. Right on cue, the first game delivered the close finish NBA fans dream of.
Despite leading by 16 points in the third quarter, with one minute left in the game, the Lakers were up 92-91. It was then that Kobe drove past Jason Kidd on the wing and pulled up for his patented fade away jumper to extend the lead by three. Dirk Nowitzki then answered with an off balance opposite foot runner in the lane to bring the Mavericks back within one.
The Mavericks got a chance to lead the game when Pau Gasol committed an atrocious foul on the Mavericks’ inbounds pass and Dirk converted both free throws to take the lead, 95-94. After turning over the ball and committing another foul, the Lakers got the ball back with 3 seconds left on the clock and a 96-94 deficit.
The Lakers went to their closer Kobe as he curled off an Andrew Bynum screen and fired an open look from three-point land. The shot proved too strong as it ricocheted off the back iron and the clock ran out.
The Mavericks proved their resilience in coming back from down 16 points, while Dirk Nowitzki also gave more ammunition to the thought that he may be the best closer in basketball. His line of 28 points and 14 rebounds wasn’t as eye-popping as Kobe’s 36 points and 5 rebounds, but his performance in the clutch was.
Dirk converted his final shot attempts, while Kobe missed an open look for the win.
This series has already gotten off to a scintillating start, look for more of the same as Game Two takes place in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
