Hawks 98 - Lakers 95

The Lakers had control for most of the game against the Hawks but let one slip away in Atlanta. Part of that may have been the dominant rebounding by the Hawks in this game with 46 against the Lakers only getting 37. Atlanta forward Al Horford had 20 rebounds alone. The Hawks also dominated in the paint scoring with an 50-32 advantage. Kobe Bryant still felt the affects of his dislocated finger scoring only 11 points in the game on 4-16 shooting but made up for it again by trying to distribute the ball a litter more as he ended the game with 10 assist.

Blame the loss on whatever you want but this is a game the Lakers should have won. This is the kind of games that they can not afford to lose this season. Pau Gasol didn't have a terrific game after a magnificent Laker debut. Gasol shot 5-14 in the game, good for 12 points. Despite all of this the Lakers controlled most of the game with Lamar Odom leading the way with 19 points and 11 rebounds, Derek Fisher chipped in 17 points, going 4-6 from three point land. The Lakers led 53-45 at the half and maintained that lead after three leading 76-68. In the fourth Atlanta rallied and took a 88-87 lead with a pair of free throws by Horford with 3:40 left in the game. With 40 seconds left Fisher hit one of two free throes to tie the game 93-93.

Lakers coach Phil Jackson said he expected a tight game.

"We were leading late in the game, but the Hawks really crashed the boards tonight and that's kind of how they took the lead," Jackson said. "When I called the last timeout I told the guys we were putting ourselves in a situation to have a long night, and sure enough that's what happened."

Joe Johnson, who scored 28 points in the game made two free throws with 23.2 seconds left to give Atlanta the two point advantage.

OK, it's Kobe time, right? Not tonight.

With Atlanta leading 95-93, Johnson guarded Bryant outside the 3-point line when Bryant suddenly lost control of the ball. Bryant was called for over-and-back when he regained possession past the midcourt line.

"I think the ball went off his leg," Johnson said. "I went at it and tried to hit it, but didn't. I think it hit off his leg again."

"It is what it is," said Bryant, who said the finger was "very swollen."

The final score was Atlanta 98, Los Angeles 95. Blame it on whatever you want but again, the Lakers can not afford to lose games like this. Despite their 21-24 record, the Hawks are not that bad at home with a 15-9 record. The road is were they have big problems with a 6-15 record.