Alonzo Adams / AP

Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, right, works against Oklahoma City Thunder's Kyle Weaver during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game in Oklahoma City, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009. Los Angeles won 107-93. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)

The Lakers’ lead eventually ballooned to 104-89 on Walton’s layup, and that allowed Bryant to exit with 1:26 to play. He had stayed in the game despite clutching his right ankle when he landed awkwardly after getting fouled on a layup attempt under the basket with about 4 minutes left.

Odom was disappointed in how Los Angeles squandered the big lead and said it “wasn’t a wholehearted effort at all defensively for us.”

“We’re pushing for perfection. We can play better than what we played tonight,” Odom said.

Los Angeles narrowly missed its ninth wire-to-wire win of the season.

After Westbrook opened the game with a reverse layup, Bryant set up Walton for a 3-pointer and the Lakers scored the next 10 points to build a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Bryant pushed the advantage to 21-9 with a twisting, right-handed jam in transition, and Los Angeles was even able to continue pulling away while the reigning MVP was resting on the bench.

A lineup featuring four reserves put together a 10-0 run, and Jordan Farmar’s free throw gave the Lakers a 47-29 lead.

The Thunder’s comeback kicked into high gear after Walton was called for a flagrant foul for taking down Westbrook on a fast break with 5:06 left in the third quarter and Oklahoma City down by 16.

Durant’s 3-pointer concluded a 15-6 finish to the third quarter by the Thunder, who then scored the first six points of the final period to get within 75-74 on Nick Collison’s left-handed layup.

Thabo Sefolosha, acquired from Chicago in a deadline day trade last week, took over Weaver’s starting spot in only his second game with the Thunder and drew the assignment of guarding Bryant much of the game. But it was an assortment of players — including Weaver, Durant and Green — that tried without success to stop him in the fourth quarter.

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Brian Snyder / Reuters

Not in their house

  Rajon Rondo had 18 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds and the Boston Celtics beat the Philadelphia 76ers 85-75 in Game 7 on Saturday night to advance to the Eastern Conference finals.

LeBron, Heat start tuning for East finals

MIAMI (AP) - LeBron James shook a few hands, slapped a few fives, gave a few hugs.

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