Gasol, Bynum lead Lakers over Thunder

Pau Gasol scored 19 points, Andrew Bynum 13 and the host Los Angeles Lakers used their twin 7-footers to dominate inside against the Oklahoma City Thunder, winning, 87-79, Sunday in the opener of their playoff series.

Kobe Bryant had 21 points, shooting 6-for-19. Kevin Durant led the Thunder with 24 points - below the 30.1 average of the NBA's youngest-ever scoring champion. Russell Westbrook added 23.

Bynum returned from a 13-game absence because of a strained right Achilles' tendon, teaming with Gasol to pull down 25 rebounds.

Magic 98, Bobcats 89Jameer Nelson scored 24 of his 32 points in the first half, and the host Orlando Magic nearly blew a 22-point lead in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series. Rashard Lewis added 19 points, and Dwight Howard had nine blocks but was limited offensively and in foul trouble for most of the second half. Gerald Wallace had 25 points, and Stephen Jackson played through a hyperextended left knee to finish with 18 points in the Bobcats' first playoff game in franchise history.

Garnett suspended, Q fined

Kevin Garnett doesn't regret his role in a fracas by his opponent's bench. "Not at all," Garnett said when asked if he regretted his actions. Neither does Quentin Richardson, the player he elbowed in the head. Garnett paid a bigger price when the NBA suspended him for Tuesday night's second game of Boston's playoff series with Miami. The Heat's Richardson was fined $25,000. The pushing and woofing took place with 40 seconds left in the Celtics' 85-76 Game 1 win Saturday night.

Jazz lose Okur to torn Achilles

An MRI exam on Utah Jazz center Mehmet Okur's left leg confirmed fears of a torn Achilles tendon, eliminating him from the remainder of the NBA playoffs. Okur flew back to Salt Lake City to mull his surgery options, leaving his dispirited teammates behind in Denver to figure out how to stop the Nuggets without him and forward Andrei Kirilenko, who aggravated a strained calf in practice Thursday.- AP