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Saturday, March 24, 2012
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Sessions debuts, Lakers beat Wolves for 19th time
By GREG BEACHAM
Posted Mar 16 2012 10:11PM
LOS ANGELES (AP) Kobe Bryant scored 28 points, Ramon Sessions had seven points and five assists as a reserve in his Los Angeles debut, and the Lakers beat Minnesota 97-92 Friday night for their 19th consecutive victory over the Timberwolves.
Andrew Bynum had 15 points and 14 rebounds, and Pau Gasol added 17 points and 11 rebounds in the Lakers' fifth straight win overall - and their first game since early 2007 without Derek Fisher in their starting lineup.
The five-time NBA champion point guard was traded to Houston on Thursday, and Sessions arrived from Cleveland to replace him along with promoted starter Steve Blake, who went scoreless with six assists in 29 minutes. Sessions made an immediate impression with three quick layups and several sharp passes.
Bryant still kept the Lakers on track, hitting five 3-pointers and scoring 17 points in the second half while revealing no obvious displeasure with the loss of Fisher, his teammate for 13 of their 16 NBA seasons.
Kevin Love had 27 points and 15 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who have lost four of five while dropping below .500 (22-23) in a skid that began with the Lakers' 105-102 win in Minneapolis a week ago. Nikola Pekovic had 20 points and 12 rebounds while engaging in a lively clash under both baskets with Bynum, but Minnesota dropped to 1-2 on its seven-game road trip despite outrebounding the Lakers 55-47.
Los Angeles never trailed for just the second time all season, nursing a small lead throughout the fourth quarter and winning at home for the 19th time in 20 games since Christmas. The Lakers' 19 straight wins over the Timberwolves comprise the longest active streak for one NBA team against one opponent.
The Lakers improved to 8-2 in a tough 17-day stretch since the All-Star break, increasing their Pacific Division lead over the Clippers to three games.
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Bryant leads Lakers past Hornets in OT, 107-101
By BRETT MARTEL
Posted Mar 15 2012 12:36AM
NEW ORLEANS (AP) Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers are defying conventional wisdom, summoning the determination to play their best when their veteran legs should be turning to jelly.
Bryant scored 33 points, and the Lakers won their fourth straight game and second in a row in overtime, 107-101 over the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday night.
"We don't get down whenever we trail by 14, 15, whatever points. We don't get discouraged," Bryant said. "We've been through it before. We've been down big in Game 7 of an NBA finals, so this is really nothing to us to maintain our composure."
For the second night in a row, the Lakers climbed out of a double-digit hole in the second half to force an extra period. On Tuesday night, they came back from 17 down to win at Memphis in double-overtime. They also trailed New Orleans by as many as 17 late in the second quarter and 15 in the second half.
The Lakers needed only one extra session in New Orleans, taking the lead on Derek Fisher's jumper in the final minute and going ahead 102-99 on Metta World Peace's steal and fast-break layup.
"Having those old guys that are battle-tested and have been through it before is great," Fisher said, referring in part to World Peace's clutch overtime steal and score. "Those are the type of plays that I mean - plays where guys are willing to step into the moment and make a play and not be fearful or afraid of the consequences. We have a team full of guys that have been through that."
Andrew Bynum added 25 points and 18 rebounds for Los Angeles, while Pau Gasol had 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Jarrett Jack scored 30 points, while Chris Kaman had 21 points and 12 rebounds for New Orleans, which has dropped six of seven games.
Bryant scored seven of his points in overtime, starting with a fast-break dunk as he was fouled by Marco Belinelli, whose desperate jersey grab was unable to slow the Lakers star down. The basket marked Los Angeles' first lead since 17-16 in the first quarter.
"We foul Kobe on a fast break and give him a dunk as opposed to wrapping him up. ... From my standpoint, guys do that when they've never been in that position before. They don't understand a hard foul," Hornets coach Monty Williams said. "That's something we can learn from and grow from. But at the same time, when you lose, you're like, `Gosh, I wish we could have that one back."'
Bryant later added a difficult driving floater as he drifted across the lane to put the Lakers ahead 98-95. The Hornets briefly came back to regain a 99-98 lead on Trevor Ariza's jumper with 1:21 left before Los Angeles went back in front for good.
Fisher finished with 11 points and Matt Barnes 10 for the Lakers, who outrebounded New Orleans 44-34.
Greivis Vasquez added 15 points and Belinelli 10 for New Orleans, which lost despite outshooting Los Angeles 51.8 percent (44 of 85) to 45.1 percent (37 of 82).
"That's a team that won championships," Vasquez said of the Lakers. "They have been in that situation many times and they know how to act: Be calm, be relaxed and they executed. That really hurt us."
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Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Bynum, Bryant help Lakers beat Grizzlies in 2 OTs
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MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP)—It took two overtime periods, but the Los Angeles Lakers eventually made sure the Memphis Grizzlies stayed behind them in the Western Conference standings.
Andrew Bynum had a season-high 37 points and 16 rebounds, Kobe Bryant scored 22 of his 34 points after halftime, and the Lakers beat Memphis 116-111 in double overtime on Tuesday night.
The Lakers entered the game a half-game ahead of Memphis, which had won 12 of 15, for the third spot in the West.
“They’re a young team, they’re hot, and they were coming for our spot,” Bynum said. “We had to defend it, and we did that.”
Memphis Grizzlies forward Marr…
The Associated Press - Mar 13, 11:55 pm EDT
1 of 13LAL-Mem Gallery
Pau Gasol added 14 points and eight assists for the Lakers, who won their third straight. Bynum and Bryant accounted for the Lakers’ last 10 points after Steve Blake connected on a 3-pointer to open the second extra period.
Bynum went 15 of 18 from the field. Bryant said Bynum’s performance was indicative of a change the Lakers have made in their offensive approach, running more things through the 7-foot center.
“The big games he had at the start of the season, he was having good games, but he wasn’t being featured,” Bryant said. “This is different. We’re featuring him, and we’re looking for him to make plays out of double-teams, and make plays for others, not just himself.”
Marreese Speights led the Grizzlies with a season-high 25 points, while Marc Gasol finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Tony Allen had 18 points, and O. J. Mayo scored 14, but was 7 of 25 from the field. Mike Conley finished with 10 points and 11 assists for Memphis.
The Grizzlies took an early lead in the second overtime, but the Lakers clicked off six straight points, including a pair of baskets by Bynum, for a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
“We played a great game, and we should have won the game,” Memphis coach Lionel Hollins said. “We had a few mental lapses at key times. As I’m always telling those guys, it’s the small things that win or lose games.”
Memphis played without leading scorer Rudy Gay, who was still suffering from concussion symptoms after a blow to the head in Sunday night’s game at Denver.
The biggest difference in the game was at the free throw line, where the Lakers were 28 of 34, while Memphis hit all five of its free throws—two of them on technicals called against Metta World Peace and Bryant.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the discrepancy in free throw attempts matched a Grizzlies franchise record dating to April, 1999, when the Seattle SuperSonics shot 29 more free throws than the then-Vancouver Grizzlies.
Memphis led 80-71 entering the fourth after outscoring Los Angeles 28-20 in the third behind 15 points from Speights. During that time, Memphis built its largest lead of the game at 72-55 just past the midway point of the period.
“I thought our guys a few times during the course of the ballgame could have folded,” Lakers coach Mike Brown said. “That’s just not in their makeup. .There’s never a panic with this group. The group just stayed the course, stayed the course and stayed the course.”
Consecutive jumpers from Bryant cut into the lead early in the fourth, and when Bynum got free for an alley-oop dunk, the Lakers were within 88-86 with 5:40 left.
Speights scored on a rebound basket for a 95-90 lead with 2:28 left. But Bryant’s 3- pointer tied the game at 95, then he fed Gasol for a dunk, giving the Lakers a 97-95 lead with 50 seconds left.
Marc Gasol scored inside for Memphis with 36.1 left, tying the game at 97 at the end of regulation.
Bynum’s dunk with 1:20 left in overtime tied it at 103.
The Grizzlies carried a 52-51 lead into the halftime break on a 3-pointer by Quincy Pondexter with 26 seconds left after an intensely played first half that saw the Lakers commit 10 turnovers while shooting 50 percent.
Bynum was dominating inside, hitting 7 of 9 for 18 points. Bryant was 4 of 5, while adding 12 points.
The Grizzlies opened the second half on a 20-4 run, keyed by 13 points from Speights.
Then Memphis began misfiring and Bryant started to score. Allen, Memphis’ top defender, was saddled with fouls and Pondexter had Bryant much of the time after intermission.
“The toughest thing defensively is not getting discouraged when he makes shots,” Pondexter said. “We’ve all seen him through the years, and when he makes shots, you can’t get discouraged.”
But it was Bynum against Marc Gasol in a battle of Western Conference All-Star centers that was the most intense matchup. And, in the end, Bynum, who entered the game averaging 23.8 over the last four games, carried the night.
“They’re trusting me now,” Bynum said of his teammates. “They’re just looking to get me the ball. When I get it, I’m doing decent things with it. Cutting down the turnovers. But it’s part of learning and being a dominant player.”
Asked how long Bynum can keep the pace, Bryant replied: “He can do it every night. He’s been doing it every night.”
NOTES: Pau Gasol was booed like every other Laker in the pregame intros, despite his years in Memphis. … Sam Young started in place of Gay. … Derek Fisher’s 3-pointer from the left corner with 5:16 left in the first quarter put him over 10,000 points for his career. .The crowd of 18,119 marked the Grizzlies’ third sellout of the season. … Memphis lost for the first time this season after surpassing the century mark. The Grizzlies are 12-1 when scoring 100 points. .The Lakers are now 8-14 on the road. They won at Minnesota on Friday and with the win over Memphis have consecutive road wins for the first time since Jan. 29 and Feb. 3. .Memphis set a franchise record with 116 shots from the field, and it was a season high in the league.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP)—It took two overtime periods, but the Los Angeles Lakers eventually made sure the Memphis Grizzlies stayed behind them in the Western Conference standings.
Andrew Bynum had a season-high 37 points and 16 rebounds, Kobe Bryant scored 22 of his 34 points after halftime, and the Lakers beat Memphis 116-111 in double overtime on Tuesday night.
The Lakers entered the game a half-game ahead of Memphis, which had won 12 of 15, for the third spot in the West.
“They’re a young team, they’re hot, and they were coming for our spot,” Bynum said. “We had to defend it, and we did that.”
Memphis Grizzlies forward Marr…
The Associated Press - Mar 13, 11:55 pm EDT
1 of 13LAL-Mem Gallery
Pau Gasol added 14 points and eight assists for the Lakers, who won their third straight. Bynum and Bryant accounted for the Lakers’ last 10 points after Steve Blake connected on a 3-pointer to open the second extra period.
Bynum went 15 of 18 from the field. Bryant said Bynum’s performance was indicative of a change the Lakers have made in their offensive approach, running more things through the 7-foot center.
“The big games he had at the start of the season, he was having good games, but he wasn’t being featured,” Bryant said. “This is different. We’re featuring him, and we’re looking for him to make plays out of double-teams, and make plays for others, not just himself.”
Marreese Speights led the Grizzlies with a season-high 25 points, while Marc Gasol finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Tony Allen had 18 points, and O. J. Mayo scored 14, but was 7 of 25 from the field. Mike Conley finished with 10 points and 11 assists for Memphis.
The Grizzlies took an early lead in the second overtime, but the Lakers clicked off six straight points, including a pair of baskets by Bynum, for a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
“We played a great game, and we should have won the game,” Memphis coach Lionel Hollins said. “We had a few mental lapses at key times. As I’m always telling those guys, it’s the small things that win or lose games.”
Memphis played without leading scorer Rudy Gay, who was still suffering from concussion symptoms after a blow to the head in Sunday night’s game at Denver.
The biggest difference in the game was at the free throw line, where the Lakers were 28 of 34, while Memphis hit all five of its free throws—two of them on technicals called against Metta World Peace and Bryant.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the discrepancy in free throw attempts matched a Grizzlies franchise record dating to April, 1999, when the Seattle SuperSonics shot 29 more free throws than the then-Vancouver Grizzlies.
Memphis led 80-71 entering the fourth after outscoring Los Angeles 28-20 in the third behind 15 points from Speights. During that time, Memphis built its largest lead of the game at 72-55 just past the midway point of the period.
“I thought our guys a few times during the course of the ballgame could have folded,” Lakers coach Mike Brown said. “That’s just not in their makeup. .There’s never a panic with this group. The group just stayed the course, stayed the course and stayed the course.”
Consecutive jumpers from Bryant cut into the lead early in the fourth, and when Bynum got free for an alley-oop dunk, the Lakers were within 88-86 with 5:40 left.
Speights scored on a rebound basket for a 95-90 lead with 2:28 left. But Bryant’s 3- pointer tied the game at 95, then he fed Gasol for a dunk, giving the Lakers a 97-95 lead with 50 seconds left.
Marc Gasol scored inside for Memphis with 36.1 left, tying the game at 97 at the end of regulation.
Bynum’s dunk with 1:20 left in overtime tied it at 103.
The Grizzlies carried a 52-51 lead into the halftime break on a 3-pointer by Quincy Pondexter with 26 seconds left after an intensely played first half that saw the Lakers commit 10 turnovers while shooting 50 percent.
Bynum was dominating inside, hitting 7 of 9 for 18 points. Bryant was 4 of 5, while adding 12 points.
The Grizzlies opened the second half on a 20-4 run, keyed by 13 points from Speights.
Then Memphis began misfiring and Bryant started to score. Allen, Memphis’ top defender, was saddled with fouls and Pondexter had Bryant much of the time after intermission.
“The toughest thing defensively is not getting discouraged when he makes shots,” Pondexter said. “We’ve all seen him through the years, and when he makes shots, you can’t get discouraged.”
But it was Bynum against Marc Gasol in a battle of Western Conference All-Star centers that was the most intense matchup. And, in the end, Bynum, who entered the game averaging 23.8 over the last four games, carried the night.
“They’re trusting me now,” Bynum said of his teammates. “They’re just looking to get me the ball. When I get it, I’m doing decent things with it. Cutting down the turnovers. But it’s part of learning and being a dominant player.”
Asked how long Bynum can keep the pace, Bryant replied: “He can do it every night. He’s been doing it every night.”
NOTES: Pau Gasol was booed like every other Laker in the pregame intros, despite his years in Memphis. … Sam Young started in place of Gay. … Derek Fisher’s 3-pointer from the left corner with 5:16 left in the first quarter put him over 10,000 points for his career. .The crowd of 18,119 marked the Grizzlies’ third sellout of the season. … Memphis lost for the first time this season after surpassing the century mark. The Grizzlies are 12-1 when scoring 100 points. .The Lakers are now 8-14 on the road. They won at Minnesota on Friday and with the win over Memphis have consecutive road wins for the first time since Jan. 29 and Feb. 3. .Memphis set a franchise record with 116 shots from the field, and it was a season high in the league.
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