The Los Angeles Lakers lost the lead three times in the fourth quarter before edging the Oklahoma City Thunder 95-92 to take a 2-0 lead in the NBA Western Conference playoff series. Kobe Bryant scored 39 points, carrying the Lakers in the fourth quarter. Joe Bryant, Kobe's father, watched his son in person for the first time in five years and enjoyed a celebration hug with his son after the Thunder missed a potential tying 3-pointer at the closing buzzer. “It was cool for me, like I was back in high school,” Bryant said of having his father in attendance. Asked if Joe had given him any pre-game advice, Bryant said his father told him, “Make the damn free throws.” Bryant made 13-of-15 free throws and made 12-of-28 shots from the field in 41 minutes on the court, going 6-of-16 in the first half and 6-of-12 in the second half to deny Oklahoma City an upset opportunity. Los Angeles' Pau Gasol had 25 points and 12 rebounds, and Andrew Bynum had six points and 10 boards for the defending champions, who failed to sustain their strong start for the second straight game. Kevin Durant led the Thunder with 32 points and Russell Westbrook added 19, making all eight of his free throws. Game 3 is Thursday in Oklahoma City. The Lakers are 39-1 all-time when winning first two games of a best-of-seven series. Celtics 106, Heat 77: In Boston, the hosts didn't miss Kevin Garnett at all, as Glen Davis filled in to lead them over Miami for a 2-0 series lead. With Garnett serving a one-game suspension, Davis started and had 23 points and eight rebounds, going aggressively to the basket to grab missed shots and draw fouls. The Heat led 29-25 but the Celtics used a 44-8 surge over the next 16½ minutes to go ahead 69-37, capped by one of Ray Allen's five 3-pointers in the third quarter. Allen led the Celtics with 25 points, while Dwyane Wade scored 29 for the Heat. Game 3 is Friday in Miami. Hawks 96, Bucks 86: In Atlanta, Joe Johnson took control in the fourth quarter to finish off a 27-point effort as Atlanta ran away from outmanned Milwaukee. Josh Smith finished one assist shy of a triple-double for the Hawks, who will head to Milwaukee on Saturday with a 2-0 series lead. Its the first time they've won the first two in a best-of-seven series since 1970. Al Horford scored 20 points for Atlanta, snatching down 10 rebounds and blocking three shots. John Salmons scored 21 points for the Bucks, and Ersan Ilyasova came off the bench for 13 points and 15 rebounds. Suns 119, Trail Blazers 90: In Phoenix, the hosts rediscovered its high-energy style to beat Portland and square the series 1-1. Jason Richardson scored 29 points and Grant Hill made 10-of-11 shots for 20 for the Suns. Unlike Game 1, Steve Nash pushed the Suns to their preferred tempo from the start and finished with 13 points and 16 assists. Amare Stoudemire scored 18. None of the Suns' starters played in the fourth quarter. Martell Webster led the Blazers with 16 points. Andre Miller was limited to 12. Nicolas Batum also scored 12 before leaving with a right shoulder strain at the end of the third quarter. The series shifts to Portland for Game 3 Thursday.
