Orange County Register

OKLAHOMA CITY — I write a column about Lamar Odom’s increased maturity after his sensational game vs. Atlanta, then he drills a key 3-pointer in overtime against Oklahoma City … and then (after missing the first foul shot) he air-balls a free-throw attempt with 10.3 seconds left to keep the Lakers’ lead at three points?

“I shot the first one a little too long, and I told myself to do everything I can not to shoot the second one long,” Odom said. “It was a lack of concentration. There was no excuse for that. It has to at least touch the rim.”

The Lakers escaped another tie when Russell Westbrook, who was often simply brutal with his ball decisions in this game, missed a final 3-pointer. Thabo Sefolosha had missed an open 3-pointer on the previous possession after Kobe Bryant gambled on defense for a steal and wound up leaving Sefolosha all alone.

Odom was unhappy that he didn’t get the benefit of some foul calls when he drove to the basket twice and collided with Thunder defenders, but he had to keep his emotions in check.

“Persistence and just staying after it (is what won the game),” Odom said. “We weren’t worrying about calls and things that didn’t go our way.”

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