Lakers’ inside duo of Gasol, Bynum overpower Thunder 87-79 to win playoff opener

Lakers’ inside duo overpower Thunder 87-79

LOS ANGELES — Pau Gasol scored 19 points, Andrew Bynum added 13 and the 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 added 21 points on 6 of 19 shooting after missing four of the final five regular season games to rest his swollen right knee and broken right index finger.

Kevin Durant led the Thunder with 24 points — under the 30.1 average of the NBA’s youngest-ever scoring champion. Former UCLA star 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.

Game 2 in the best-of-7 series is Tuesday at Staples Center.