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Lakers Star Raises Money For Japan Relief With Every Point Scored

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — For every point that Lakers star Pau Gasol shot during Friday night's Lakers-Clippers game, he promised to donate $1,000 to Japan relief.
Gasol joined a group of fellow basketball players, including his brother Mark, pledging to donate to Direct Relief (Japan's Relief and Recovery Fund).

"It is exciting because you're playing for something more and something really meaningful," Gasol said.

The fans were right behind him.

Derek Haayema came all the way from Australia just for Friday night's game.

"It's a good cause. We've got our own problems in Australia and I think that's great of Pau to help out the Japanese people," Haayema said.

Gasol scored 26 points Friday night, equating to $26,000 out of his own pocket. And Magic Johnson also pledged to match Gasol dollar-for-dollar, which means $52,000 in aid for Japan.

(©2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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