After such a dominant first half by the Lakers, many were wondering: Is this game over or will there be the always possible erosion of play (see Game 4) over the next 24 minutes. Surely, the new-look Lakers can't blow a 21-point halftime lead, can they?

The teams traded free throws through thefirst minute including two by Kobe Bryant. It was Bryant's seventh free-throw attempt this game, a far cry from the two he took the previous two games.

Things really started to look like a Laker breeze when Pau Gasol finished a three-point play with a free throw to give the Lakers a 26-point lead. Thabo Sefolosha and Ron Artest taded threes and after a Thunder miss Andrew Bynum dunk after an Artest steal gave the Lakers a 28-point lead.

It's looking like the Thunder has resigned themselves to losing this game.

--John Cherwa