Lakers hand Wizards 11th straight loss
March 21, 2010
LOS ANGELES (AP)—Kobe Bryant(notes) scored 20 of his 24 points on a variety of jumpshots during a dynamic second quarter, and the Los Angeles Lakers sent theWashington Wizards to their 11th straight loss, 99-92 Sunday night.
Pau Gasol(notes) had 28 points and 12 rebounds for the Lakers, who won their sixthstraight after a three-game skid. The defending NBA champions had little troublewith woeful Washington in the first three quarters, jumping to a 26-pointhalftime lead after another memorable quarter by Bryant.
After hitting four 3-pointers and scoring 16 points in the final 5 1/2 minutesbefore halftime alone, Bryant fell one point shy of matching Alex English for12th place on the NBA’s career scoring list when he scored just two points inthe second half.
Former USC guard Nick Young(notes) matched his season high with 22 points for theWizards, who are two losses shy of tying the worst skid in franchise history,established in 1967 and matched in 1995.
Al Thornton(notes) had 18 points, and Andray Blatche(notes) added 16 points and 12rebounds as Washington wrapped up a four-game road trip with its seventhstraight loss to the Lakers.
Bryant’s perimeter accuracy propelled the Lakers on a 25-6 run to a 59-33halftime lead. He did it all on shots longer than 12 feet, including threeconsecutive 3-pointers in the final minutes.
Bryant then shut it down in the second half, taking his only shot in theopening moments of the third quarter. Washington outscored the Lakers 32-17 inthe fourth to trim the margin of victory.
The Lakers played the first of several games without starting center AndrewBynum(notes), who could be out for more than two weeks after straining his leftAchilles’ tendon in Friday’s win over Minnesota. Bynum, the Lakers’third-leading scorer (15.0) and rebounder (8.3), might be sidelined untilshortly before the playoffs with his third significant injury in three years.
Lamar Odom(notes) took Bynum’s spot in the Lakers’ starting lineup, getting fourpoints and 13 rebounds. Ron Artest(notes) scored 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting, whileBynum’s absence also meant 19 minutes for Josh Powell(notes), who scored five points.
Los Angeles improved the Western Conference’s best record to 52-18 with aleague-best 32nd home victory. The Lakers lead Denver by five games in theconference standings with 12 to play.
The Lakers got a comfortable win before starting the biggest remaining testof their regular season: They’ll open a five-game road trip in San Antonio onWednesday, with future stops in Oklahoma City and Atlanta. The Lakers play justfour of their final 12 games at Staples Center.
NOTES: Thornton played his first game back at Staples Center since theClippers traded him on Feb. 17. … Lakers coach Phil Jackson said they can’tpredict a timetable for Bynum’s return. He missed 46 games during the 2007-08season with a dislocated left knee, and he sat out 32 games last season with atorn ligament in his right knee. … Courtside fans included actors GerardButler and Adrien Brody, and California’s first lady, Maria Shriver.
