LOS ANGELES, Calif.–In a game decried by TV commentators as an embarrassment to NBA basketball, to the Los Angeles Lakers and to coach Phil Jackson, the Lakers were blown out of the Western Conference semifinals by the Dallas Mavericks, 122-86.
Lakers center Andrew Bynum and forward Lamar Odom were ejected for deliberate fouls in the fourth quarter of the game at Dallas’ American Airlines Center. Bynum bludgeoned Mavericks guard J.J. Barea with his elbow, then quickly stripped off his jersey at midcourt as he headed to the locker room.
“That was one of the biggest bush league things I have ever seen,” an ABC announcer said as he watched a replay of Bynum’s elbow knifing into Barea’s ribs, a move that came when the Lakers were 29 points behind.
The Mavericks tied an NBA playoff record by making 20 3-point baskets.
Dallas won the best-of-seven series, four games to none, the first timethe Lakers had been swept in a playoff series since the 1999 Western Conference semifinals.
The game is expected to have been the last for Jackson, who has won an NBA record 11 championships as a coach.
Despite the loss, Jackson was optimistic about the future for the Lakers, who had won the last two NBA championships.
“The Lakers are going to survive and do well,” Jackson said.
Lakers executive vice president of business operations Jeanie Buss wrote on her Twitter page, “We will be back. Dr. Buss knows how to fix things,” referring to her father, team owner Jerry Buss.
