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Metta World Peace had 10 points, and two assists in the first half, but the Los Angeles Lakers trail the Oklahoma City Thunder 59-44 at halftime of Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals. The Lakers are facing their biggest test of these playoffs, and World Peace will have to step up for Los Angeles to have a chance of even surviving in this series.
Despite a 13-point deficit, the Lakers have been impressive early on. Kobe Bryant, scored 10 points on 3-for-7 shooting, but the Lakers surrendered too many points in the first half, with Oklahoma scoring 59 points. The Lakers were unable to stop Russell Westbrook, who seemed to score from every angle on his way to 17 first-half points, four rebounds, and six assists.
The two seven-footers, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum, combined for 20 points to finish the half. The Lakers will need a strong second-half to take a 1-0 lead in the best of seven series.
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