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Lakers Sweep Trip, Pummel Timberwolves
11.19.10
Pau Gasol battles down low against Timberwolves.
The Lakers completed a perfect 3-0 road trip, with a 112-95 whitewashing of the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Target Center on Friday night.
It was also a perfect night for Matt Barnes, and not just figuratively. Off the bench, he led the Lakers with 24 points, and went a perfect 7-7 from the field, including 5-5 from the 3-point line, and 5-5 from the foul line. And to top it off, he also had seven rebounds, six assists, and two steals. This was easily Barnes’ best game as a Laker and maybe of his career.
Kobe Bryant had 23 points and eight rebounds, and several highlight plays despite shooting just 8-27 from the field. Pau Gasol shook off tweaking his ankle early in third quarter, and scored 16 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. Lamar Odom added 11 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists.
The Lakers didn’t take the Wolves lightly this time like they did in Los Angeles two weeks ago. They came to play from the start, led 51-41 at halftime, and by as much as 23 in the fourth quarter. They emptied the bench and cruised to the victory to finish up an undefeated road trip, with all three wins by at least 11 points.
The Lakers also made a concerted effort to shut down the league’s leading rebounder Kevin Love, as he didn’t score in the game and grabbed just seven rebounds in 34 minutes of action. Love victimized the Lakers last time for 23 points and 24 rebounds, and recently had a 30/30 game against the New York Knicks. But on this night, he was completely taken out of the game by Lamar Odom.
Minnesota did have a couple of bright spots though. Darko Milicic scored 23 points, grabbed 16 rebounds, and had six blocks, in what was arguably the best game of his career. And Michael Beasley continues his resurgence up north, scoring 25 points and notching 10 rebounds.
The Lakers did get a scare when Shannon Brown was poked in the right eye early in the fourth quarter on a layup attempt. He stayed in the game to shoot free throws, but was having a hard time seeing out of the eye, and went to the locker room to be checked out. He did return to the game and played several minutes, as it appeared the injury was not that serious.
The Lakers also did a good job on the defensive end, holding the Wolves under 40% (39.6%) from the field, and just 6-26 (23.1%) from the 3-point line. They also had 10 steals and eight blocked shots.
The team returns home for a Sunday contest against Monta Ellis and the Golden St. Warriors at Staples Center. The Lakers beat the Warriors 107-83 back on Halloween night at Staples, as the team from the Bay Area played without guard Stephen Curry. This time they will be without All-Star forward David Lee, who is recovering from an infected elbow suffered in a game last week against the New York Knicks.
Lakers Breeze Past Struggling Pistons
11.17.10
Kobe Bryant scores two of his 33 against Pistons.
The Lakers made short work of the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday, leading by as many as 26 points in the second half, as they cruised to a 103-90 victory at the Palace of Auburn Hills.
Kobe Bryant took advantage of smaller defenders all night, scoring a game-high 33 points, with nine rebounds, and four assists in just under 32 minutes of action. Pau Gasol dominated the worst-rebounding team in the league in the paint, with 25 points and 12 rebounds, and Lamar Odom added 15 points and 14 boards. The Lakers outrebounded the Pistons 55-41.
In a microcosm of the Pistons’ season so far, guard Richard Hamilton was ejected with two technicals just five minutes into the game, after he picked up two early fouls guarding Kobe Bryant. Discipline and internal battles have been a recurring theme for Detroit, as they continue to unravel on the court.
The Lakers took advantage of the Pistons’ woes, jumping out to a 59-45 lead halftime. The lead ballooned to 78-52 late in the third quarter, as the NBA champs showed no mercy in piling up the points. The final score was not indicative of how one-sided the game really was, as the Pistons made it respectable against the end of the Lakers’ bench in the fourth quarter.
The Pistons were led by Rodney Stuckey’s 18 points. Tayshaun Prince had 13 points, and Austin Daye added 12. Nobody else on the squad tallied more than eight points.
The Lakers held the Pistons to a miserable 39.3% from the field, including 4-16 (25.0%) from the 3-point line. The only bright spots for the home team on the stat sheet were that they only committed just five turnovers, and held the league’s highest-scoring team to 103 points. The Lakers have now beaten the Pistons three straight times in Detroit, after dropping the previous six there.
The Lakers conclude their three-game road trip on Friday in Minnesota. The Lakers have already beaten the Timberwolves once this season in Los Angeles, but it was a struggle in a 99-94 win back on November 9.
Lakers Blow Lead, Fall in Denver
11.11.10
Ron Artest goes up for two against Nuggets.
The Lakers blew a 10-point fourth quarter lead, played sloppy down the stretch, and watched Carmelo Anthony pour in 32 points as the Nuggets knocked the Lakers from the ranks of the undefeated, 118-112 in Denver on Thursday night.
It was a game the Lakers were in control of most of the night, leading by as many as 14 midway through the third quarter. They held a 95-85 lead with just over 10 minutes left in the game when the Nuggets went on a 16-0 run to take a 101-98 lead. The Lakers took their last lead at 105-103 on a layup by Shannon Brown , but were thoroughly outplayed down the stretch, settling for too many 3-pointers, as the Nuggets pulled away late for an impressive come-from-behind win.
Kobe Bryant led all scorers with 34 points, but hit only 11-32 shots from the field. He missed several open jump shots down the stretch as well. Pau Gasol had 17 points and a season-high 20 rebounds, but was clearly frustrated by the Nuggets’ smaller lineup employed by coach George Karl for large parts of the game. Ron Artest had a solid game with 18 points.
The real bright spot for the Lakers was the play of Shannon Brown, who scored 19 points off the bench and made several big shots and plays in the fourth quarter to keep them close. But it wasn’t enough, as the Lakers fell to 8-1 on the season.
Carmelo Anthony led the Nuggets with 32 points (on 14-25 shooting) and 13 rebounds. His play was the difference down the stretch as he hit big basket after big basket to help get the win. Nene had 18 points.
But it was the play of the Nuggets’ bench that got the them the lead in the fourth. Ty Lawson got the to the rim at will, scoring 17 points with 5 assists, and J.R. Smith, who has struggled this year so far, found his range from beyond the arc and scored 13 points.
The Lakers will try to bounce back on Sunday as they take on Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns at Staples Center on Sunday. The Lakers beat the Suns 114-106 in the second game of the season in Phoenix.
Lakers Sluggish in Win Against Raptors
11.05.10
Pau Gasol scores two of his 30 points against the Raptors.
When the Lakers look back on this season, Friday’s game against the Toronto Raptors won’t be remembered as one to save for a time capsule, just as a victory. The Lakers shook off a terrible defensive game, and beat a gritty Raptor team 108-103 at Staples Center, to move to 6-0 on the season.
When the Lakers jumped out to a 33-20 lead after one quarter, it looked like the game was headed for extended minutes of garbage time, and another short night for the starters. But the young Raptors, learning about life after Chris Bosh, responded to the adversity on the road and stormed back to take a 58-55 lead into halftime.
The game went back and forth in the third, before the Lakers finally got the lead for good late in the quarter. They held on down the stretch for the win despite some uncharacteristic, shaky play in the last minute.
The Raptors dominated inside and on the boards all night, getting to the basket at will against the bigger Lakers, and outrebounding the world champs 49-31. The Lakers appeared confused on defense all through the game, and had trouble boxing out, as the Raptors also had 19 offensive rebounds to keep them afloat after the Lakers’ early lead.
Pau Gasol had another impressive offensive game, scoring 30 points on 12-22 shooting. He grabbed only seven rebounds, and didn’t have a single board until midway through the third quarter. It was just that kind of night. Kobe Bryant scored 23 points with six assists, and Steve Blake had 14 points, making 4-6 from the 3-point line. Shannon Brown added 12 points off the bench.
The Raptors had six players in double figures, led by Leandro Barbosa off the bench with 17, and USC-product DeMar DeRozan with 15. Amir Johnson off the bench had 12 points, and a game and career-high 15 rebounds, including nine on the offensive end. Andrea Bargnani and Jose Calderon each added 14 points.
The Lakers did outshoot the Raptors from the field hitting 48.1% to 47.1%, and only turned the ball over 12 times. But those were the few statistical categories the Lakers did win, besides the most important stat, the final score. The Raptors scored 38 points in the second quarter to erase the Lakers early 13-point lead.
Luke Walton saw his first action of the year, playing a little over six minutes and taking just one shot. He had been bothered by a strained hamstring since training camp.
The Lakers look to stay undefeated when they face Brandon Roy and the Portland Trail Blazers at home on Sunday. The Blazers, who always give the Lakers a hard time, are off to a good start at 4-2, despite missing their top two centers Greg Oden, and Joel Przybilla, both still recovering from serious knee injuries last year.
Lakers Run Over Grizzlies 124-105
11.02.10
Pau Gasol dunks over Hasheem Thabeet of Memphis.
It was another short night for the starters, as the Lakers dominated from start to finish, and dispatched the Memphis Grizzlies 124-105 at Staples Center on Tuesday night.
For the second straight game, the Lakers bench saw extensive action as the contest was blowout by early in the second quarter. Kobe Bryant scored all of his team-high 23 points in the first half, and played just 25 minutes.
In the battle of the Gasol brothers, Pau, coming off his Western Conference Player-of-the-Week award, easily won this match-up scoring 21 points, grabbing 13 rebounds, and dishing out five assists. Marc managed 11 points and eight rebounds, but was a non-factor most of the night as the game got out of hand early.
The Lakers led 34-23 after one, and turned up the offense in the second quarter, led by Bryant’s 14 points in the period, to take a 73-46 lead into halftime. The Grizzlies never got closer than 14 points in the second half, and the Laker reserves maintained the cushion throughout, even briefly pushing the lead up to 32. Matt Barnes led three Lakers in double-figures off the bench with 16 points and 14 rebounds. Shannon Brown scored 13, including 3-3 from the 3-point line, and Steve Blake added 10. The Lakers’ bench outscored the Grizzlies’ 50-30.
Lamar Odom scored 17 on 6-7 shooting, including eight rebounds, six assists, and a steal. Odom is averaging over 16 points and 12 rebounds to start the season.
Memphis was led by Rudy Gay’s 30 points, 12-18 from the field, and 3-3 from behind the arc. Mike Conley had 16 points and eight assists after signing a 5-year/$45 million extension earlier in the day. O.J. Mayo struggled from the floor scoring only eight points, on 3-11 shooting. He also had his troubles with Bryant on the offensive end, which has been a familiar story for the third-year pro when he has played against the Lakers.
All-Star forward Zach Randolph again sat out for the Grizzlies with a sore back injured on opening night. Memphis definitely missed his presence offensively and on the glass, as they were outrebounded 59-36.
The Lakers shot 51.2% from the field, and 14-23 (60.9%) from the 3-point line for the game, but again turned the ball over far too many times with 19. They had 20 turnovers two nights earlier in a blowout win against Golden St.
The Lakers play their first back-to-back games of the season as they take on the Sacramento Kings in Sacramento tomorrow night. The Kings are playing well at 3-1, and are coming off a win over Toronto, where they rallied from a 17-point first quarter deficit on Monday at home.
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