Lakers Even Up to 2-2, Beat the Wiz

Bouncing back from a lackluster performance against Toronto, the Los Angeles Lakers used a 20-7 run to end the first half and went on to win 115-103 against the Washington Wizards at the Verizon Center. Kobe Bryant (26 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds) and Pau Gasol (26 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists) led the Lakers to the road victory to even their 8-game road trip at 2-2. Both teams started well with the Wiz taking an early 6-3 lead behind back-to-back treys from Mike Miller (15 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists) and Antwan Jamison (27 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist). The teams played nip and tuck throughout the first period as the Wizards used the long ball to stay a step in front. But the Lakers used their size and strength in the paint behind Gasol and Andrew Bynum (12 points, 5 rebounds, 1 blocked shot) to stay close. Kobe’s 18-ft jump shot as the period came to a close gave them a 30-29 lead after one.

Pau’s tip-in at the 8:00 mark started a 20-7 run that gave the Lakers a commanding 60-44 lead at halftime. The Lakers defense turned it up a notch as a string of turnovers added to the Wizards woes. Shannon Brown (11 points, 3 assists, 3 steals, 2 rebounds) had an exciting quarter as he dunked on a lob pass, threw down a monster jam on the break, and slammed home another off a missed free throw by Bynum. The Wizards looked dazed and confused as the Lakers did as they pleased, harassing and forcing them into poor shot selections. The Lakers, apparently finally awake after their meeting with President Obama, were diving on the floor for loose balls, getting hands into the passing lanes, and generally looked more focused and energized than in their previous 3 games on the current road trip.

The second half consisted of the Wizards trying to make runs to cut into the deficit, but each time the Lakers responded with surges of their own. Lamar Odom (15 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists) and Jordan Farmar (7 points, 1 assist) prevented Washington from getting any closer with a 12-2 run to extinguish any hopes of a come from behind victory for the 14-30 Arenas- and Crittenton-less “Bullets.” Caron Butler (18 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals) and Randy Foye (11 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal) rounded out the scoring for the Wiz. Washington out-rebounded the Lakers, 41-32 but the Lakers shot 58.7% from the field and converted 18-22 free throws for 81.8%. The Lakers move on to Indiana with another back-to-back contest against the Pacers tomorrow night.