If Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard wants one of those Nike puppets LeBron and Kobe have, he’s going to need to do more than just put on a Superman cape and dunk on a 12-foot goal.

Kobe scored 40 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and dished out eight assists in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, leading the Lakers to a 100-75 rout of the Magic on Thursday night at the Staples Center, per the Los Angeles Times (@LATimes).

@DwightHoward had 12 points and 15 rebounds, but was swallowed up by the Lakers 6-foot-11-plus trio of Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, and Lamar Odom (@RealLamarOdom).

L.A. was ready to celebrate with some sushi and a spray tan after this one:

1. 
   peterpb Watching the Lakers drown the Magic………Lakers V’s Cavs would have been much better….. 05 Jun 2009 from TweetDeck
2. 
   Francis_A Couldn’t have asked for a better Game 1 Result. Way to go, Lakers. One victory down, 3 to go. 05 Jun 2009 from web
3. 
   lazlud Love to see the Lakers stepping up their game for the finals! 05 Jun 2009 from web
4. 
   lukP01 As expected, Lakers won game 1, and the rest of the series. Kobe’s focus and determination…look like he really wants it so bad..nba trophy 05 Jun 2009 from web
5. 
   rogemark Feel good Laker fans, game one sent a message: Kobe will not be denied! 05 Jun 2009 from web

Orlando meanwhile must rebound after a tough loss and prove they belong in the place critics said they would never be:

1. 
   SleepySoStoney RT @kaj33: Tonight the Magic starred in “Lost” 05 Jun 2009 from TweetDeck
2. 
   svenjayne This magic lakers series is no way over. If just some of those wide open shots fall, they are right back in it. 05 Jun 2009 from TwitterFon
3. 
   Ivanohe God i hate Kobe!! C’mon Orlando please show up for game 2!!! 05 Jun 2009 from TwitterFon
4. 
   pikajue Note to the Orlando Magic: Playing Kobe Bryant one-on-one isn’t recommended. 05 Jun 2009 from web
5. 
   GDeppen David Stern just allowed LeBron James to be traded to the Magic for the next 2 weeks. 05 Jun 2009 from txt
6. 
   ayoung1 Soooooo Lakers take game One, 100 – 75 over the magic. Anyone think it may have been different against Cleveland? 05 Jun 2009 from web

The NBA Finals is truly a spectacle, especially in Los Angeles:

The Staples Center scoreboard displays the obvious

(Twitpic by@Lakers_Carver)

So what were NBA players and executives thinking? The players talked about the game, but the Lakers executive VP and Phil Jackson lover was not (*sigh* again):

1. 
   JeanieBuss we may have trouble in stands – Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum) and Superman (Tom Welling) from Smallville here 05 Jun 2009 from mobile web
2. 
   RealLamarOdom Focusing on 3 more wins. Staples crowd was on fire. 05 Jun 2009 from UberTwitter
3. 
   Rickafox Lakers in 3….they might cancel the 4th game….parade next week? What do you guys think? 05 Jun 2009 from web
4. 
   nate_robinson Been MIA but back now.. Orlando gotta pick up there game play, gotta find rhythm and bounce back, kobe wit knicks jersey 4 cover of 2K10 05 Jun 2009 from TwitterBerry

Who do you think is going to win the series? Post your comments below or tweet @BTsports!

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