Fumbles at the Forum, er, Staples Center

That was a satisfying win over the Lakers, despite the comedy of errors in the closing seconds. For those who missed it, after L.A.'s Ronny Turiaf hit a layup with 13 seconds left to put the Lakers within 96-95, Larry Hughes took the ball on the end line to try to inbound it to someone who could hit foul shots. Boobie Gibson's good at that, so he figured he'd get it to Boobie. But Boobie, trying to make a move that would let him elude Kobe Bryant just enough to get the ball, slipped and fell, and barely got a hand on the ball. Luke Walton picked it up and tossed it to Kobe under the hoop. With the other three Cavs down the floor, Kobe had only Hughes to beat for a layup, but Larry managed to get a hand on it. It went off the rim and bounced back to Bryant, who knocked bodies with Boobie and fell down himself. Hughes picked it up and got a quick time-out, after which LeBron got the ball and hit his free throws with nine seconds left. Bryant and Walton tossed the ball back and forth to each other for nine seconds, neither able to get off a three without a hand in his face. Walton probably should have taken the shot; he got the ball with about two seconds left, and LeBron scrambling over to him. It wouldn't have been wide open, but he's got to take that shot. Instead, he wussed and sent it back to Kobe, but it was too late for him to get a shot off. He did throw up a prayer after the buzzer went off, but it didn't go in anyway.

Of course, this win was not without its price. Anderson Varejao hurt his ankle in the third quarter. X-rays were negative, but he's got an MRI scheduled. We'll see how that turns out. Maybe he won't be out long. Fingers crossed. When Z fouled out with about four minutes left, it sure would have been nice to have Andy come in for him.

How about that rain delay in the first quarter? It looked like the roof was leaking, but it turned out that some roofers had left their soaking-wet clothes on a catwalk over the court, and that's where the water was coming from. I guess that's what happens when you make roofers work on a Sunday.