24 Apr 2010

Thunder win home playoff debut

6:46 am on 24 April 2010

Oklahoma City have won their NBA basketball home playoff debut by beating the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers 101-96 to cut the Lakers' series lead to 2-1.

The top-seeded Lakers got back within 98-96 on a Kobe Bryant layup with 13.5 seconds left, but the Thunder closed it out from the foul line.

It's the Thunder's first playoff victory as a franchise since moving from Seattle.

The fourth game is on Sunday in Oklahoma City.

In the other Western Conferencee game Phoenix beat Portland 108-89 to go 2-1 up and in the east Chicago started quickly then held on to beat Cleveland 108-106 in game three.

Cleveland lead 2-1 though.