KROHA

orchestra," Bryant said.
"You have guys that you
can use and go to in certain

situations."

Bryant, Gasol and Artest

rested their instruments in

the fourth quarter,

preparing for Game 6 on
Friday night.
The defending NBA
champions coolly shook off
the eighth-seeded
Thunder's series-tying
blowout win in Game 4 with
a comprehensive thrashing
of the postseason
neophytes. Oklahoma City
never recovered after
missing its first 13 shots,
and the Thunder must win
again at home to avoid
elimination.
"I wish I could say why, but
they kicked our butts from
the beginning," said Durant,
who had 17 points. "They
had some dunks early on
and got the fans excited,
and they just kind of
cruised from there. It was
tough to come back."
Although Bryant again didn't
put up astronomical
offensive numbers, there
was no need. He did his
best work slowing
Westbrook, limiting the
Thunder's star point guard
to 15 points.
"I enjoy a challenge, and
he's been playing
sensational," Bryant said.
"If we're going to be
eliminated, I don't want to
go into the summer thinking I
could have done something