Lakers steamroll Warriors, 130-113

LOS ANGELES There was no letdown by the Lakers after their intense Christmas Day victory over Boston in the teams' first meeting since the NBA finals last summer, won by the Celtics.

The night following the 92-83 loss in Los Angeles that ended their 19-game win streak, the Celtics fell to the Warriors 99-89 in San Francisco. It was the first time this season Boston had lost two in a row.

The Lakers, who hadn't played since Thursday, breezed to a relatively easy victory over the Warriors, who have won just twice in 19 games against them at Staples Center.

Sasha Vujacic had 17 points, Pau Gasol had 13 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, and Andrew Bynum chipped in with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Jamal Crawford returned to the Warriors' lineup after missing two games with a groin strain and scored 22 points. Marco Belinelli and Brandan Wright had 14 points apiece, and Andris Biedrins had eight points and 17 rebounds.

Bryant and most of both teams' regulars sat out the fourth quarter.

Los Angeles took control of the game with a 37-point third quarter that increased the lead from 65-58 at halftime to 102-85 heading into the final period.

Bryant had 21 points by halftime, going 10-of-10 from the free throw line. Vujacic scored 11 for Los Angeles in the first half.

Belinelli had 14 points, Crawford 11 and Biedrins had eight points and 15 rebounds in the half to help the Warriors stay within striking distance.

Bryant scored 13 points and Los Angeles was up 31-27 at the end of the first 12 minutes.

Crawford and Belinelli each scored nine for the Warriors in the first period, but Golden State committed five turnovers that the Lakers turned into nine points. The Warriors finished with 17 turnovers that Los Angeles converted into 31 points.

Notes: Boston returned to form on Sunday, routing the Kings 108-63 in Sacramento. ... The Warriors are still without leading scorer Corey Maggette (19.1 ppg), who has missed 12 games with a strained hamstring. ... Golden State's Ronny Turiaf, making his first appearance in Los Angeles against his former Lakers teammates, was given a video tribute before the game and was applauded by the crowd when he came onto the floor late in the first quarter. ... The Warriors and Lakers split four games last season.


MORE L.A. BREAKING NEWS, WEATHER, TRAFFIC, SPORTS

USEFUL LINKS:
SEND TIP || REPORT TYPO || TWEET @abc7 ||  WIDGET

Copyright © 2024 KABC Television, LLC. All rights reserved.