Pau Gasol missed out on an All-Star Game selection Thursday for the first time in three seasons.
He didn’t let that momentary disappointment affect his playing later that evening.
Gasol provided 25 points and 14 rebounds and delivered a game-saving block at the overtime buzzer that sealed the Los Angeles Lakers’ 88-87 victory at Boston.
His block of Ray Allen’s shot at the buzzer enabled the Lakers to escape with a victory, only their second win in the last eight road games.
“I’ve been in situations before in my career where you freeze … catch yourself looking at the ball and end up losing the game,” Gasol told the Asssociated Press.
Allen said he was stunned that Gasol was in position for his late play.
“I was in the perfect position,” Allen told the AP, “and he came out of nowhere.”
Lakers coach Mike Brown was just happy that Gasol was in place when he needed him.
“That shot that Ray Allen took was good, in my opinion,” Brown told the AP. “But Pau did not stop playing until he heard the horn, and he came up with the big block.”
That clutch play enabled him to lead Thursday’s Studs and Duds of the top players across the association.
STUDS
Los Angeles Lakers F Pau Gasol: Notched 25 points, 14 rebounds, three assists and two blocks in the Lakers’ overtime victory at Boston. Gasol’s key block at the end of overtime preserved the triumph.
Golden State G Stephen Curry: Erupted for 36 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, two blocks and was plus-15 in the Warriors’ victory at Denver.
Los Angeles Lakers G Kobe Bryant: Went for 27 points, five rebounds, four assists and was plus-2 in the Lakers’ victory at Boston.
Sacramento G Tyreke Evans: Filled the stat sheet with 22 points, five rebounds, five assists, four steals and was plus-7 in the Kings’ triumph over Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma City G Russell Westbrook: Produced 33 points, six rebounds and three assists in the Thunder’s loss at Sacramento.
Houston’s bench: All five substitutes scored in double figures as they outscored Phoenix’s bench, 57-13, in the Rockets’ triumph over the Suns.
DUDS
Los Angeles Lakers G Derek Fisher: Missed all seven shots from the field with two turnovers and was minus-10 in the Lakers’ victory over Boston.
Phoenix G Sebastian Telfair: Missed all four shots with a turnover and was minus-19 in the Suns’ loss to Houston.
Denver G Rudy Fernandez: Went 4 for 13 from the field with four turnovers and was a team-worst minus-17 in the Nuggets’ loss to Golden State.
Oklahoma City C Kendrick Perkins: Was limited to five points on 1-for-4 shooting, had three turnovers and was minus-1 in the Thunder’s loss at Sacramento.
Boston F Kevin Garnett: Clanked through a 6-for-23 shooting effort with a turnover in the Celtics’ loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.