OKLAHOMA CITY — Russell Westbrook scored 28 points, Kevin Durant added 25 points and 10 rebounds, and the Oklahoma City Thunder surged ahead in the second half to beat Los Angeles 106-90 in Game 5 on Monday night and eliminate the Lakers from the playoffs.
The two All-Stars both bypassed their breaks in the second half and used the time they’d normally be resting to fuel the big run that put away the game and end the Lakers’ season.
Westbrook had two three point plays during a 14-3 burst that put Oklahoma City ahead to stay late in the third quarter, and Durant hit two three pointers as the Thunder scored the first 10 points of the fourth to push their lead to 93-77.
Kobe Bryant scored 42 points for the Lakers.
The Thunder open the Western Conference final Sunday at top-seeded San Antonio.
After getting eliminated by Los Angeles in 2010 and Dallas in 2011 before both of those teams went on to win it all, the Thunder knocked both out on their way to the West final for the second consecutive year.
The only other time the franchise made consecutive conference finals was from 1978-1980, including Seattle’s only NBA title in 1979.
Once there, they’ll face the top-seeded Spurs, the only team other than the Lakers or Mavericks to win the West in the past 13 years. San Antonio also is riding an 18-game winning streak.
Westbrook went running to the scorer’s table and pumped his fist in the air after his first three-point play, when he was able to flip the ball in after Ramon Sessions fouled him on the fast break.
He converted another after banking in a jumper from the left side despite Sessions slapping him on the arm to make it 82-76 with 1:29 left in the third quarter.
Durant extended the lead with a three-pointer in the opening minute of the fourth and then hit another 32 seconds later - just after Bryant had stepped to the scorer’s table to check in after a brief rest.
There was little Bryant could do after he got back in, despite the 13th 40-point game of his playoff career.
After the Laker blew a fourth-quarter lead in Game 4, Bryant had called out forward Pau Gasol to be more aggressive - much as he had with Gasol and Andrew Bynum before the Lakers faced elimination in Game 7 of the first round against Denver.
Gasol came through with 23 points, 17 rebounds and 6 assists, and Steve Blake scored a playoff career-best 19 points to save the Lakers that time. Bryant didn’t get nearly as much help against the Thunder.
At a glance MONDAY’S GAMES Boston 101, Philadelphia 85
Boston leads series 3-2 Oklahoma City 106, LA Lakers 90
Oklahoma City wins series 4-1
TODAY’S GAME All times Central Indiana at Miami, 7 p.m.
Series tied 2-2
Sports, Pages 15 on 05/22/2012