The game started slowly for both teams. Â Detroit won the tip and immediately began with a lob dunk to Andre Drummond. Â Both teams struggled early from the field, but Detroit decided to double team Kobe Bryant in the post all quarter long. Carlos Boozer got started with a quick 8 points on a couple of midrange jumpers and quick finishes in the paint.
Boozer's 8th point. 4 of 5 from the field. https://t.co/YP5xHLVQPA
— Mike Garcia (@CanyonDriver) December 3, 2014
Jeremy Lin hit an open three point shot. Â Nick Young closed the quarter with an And-1 to tie the score at the end of the first quarter, 19-19.
And 1 for Nick Young https://t.co/uxlXDKkggf
— Mike Garcia (@CanyonDriver) December 3, 2014
Wayne Ellington started the second quarter with a couple of made jumpshots. Â Clearly the most comfortable shooter on the team, the Lakers need to find a way to get him more shots altogether. Â His field goals, a made free throw by Nick Young, and a midrange jumpshot by Sacre gave the Lakers the lead and pushed it out to five points early on.
Ellington with the jumper https://t.co/NAbfGZX5I5
— Mike Garcia (@CanyonDriver) December 3, 2014
Nick Young jumped to a quick 10 points after drawing an And-1 from midrange, straight from Kobe Bryant’s textbook.  Wayne Ellington was aggressive early, taking D.J. Augustin into the post with no success, but came back flying in transition with a layup.  The Lakers came out with 18 quick bench points.  Kobe Bryant struggled early from the field, but continued his playmaking ways despite going 0 of 4.  He found Jordan Hill with a sweet pass for a dunk.
Different angle on Kobe's assist https://t.co/Yifhaeqxbx
— Mike Garcia (@CanyonDriver) December 3, 2014
The starting Laker backcourt started 1 of 8 from the field, carried only by Lin’s lone three-point field goal.  As a whole, both teams shot miserably, hovering at 40% each approaching halftime.  Carlos Boozer and Nick Young both lead the Lakers in scoring at the half with 10 points a piece.
It has been a sloppy first half for the Lakers, but Jordan Hill has been picking up some of the slack on the backboard with 7 rebounds.
The score at the half is 46-45.
