Pau Gasol made the most of his season debut, scoring 24 points and grabbing 13 rebounds as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Chicago Bulls 108-93 on Thursday.
Kobe Bryant added 21 points to pass Laker legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the club’s career scoring list.
Ron Artest added 15 points for the reigning NBA champs, who finally had their full starting lineup intact as they posted their ninth win in a dozen games to begin the season.
PHOTO: AFP
Gasol missed the first 11 games of the year with a strained right hamstring. He shot nine-of-15 from the field as the Lakers won their second straight game.
Bryant had nine rebounds and eight assists. He also vaulted past Abdul-Jabbar into second-place on the Lakers’ all-time scoring list with 24,182 total points. Jerry West (25,192) is in first place while Abdul-Jabbar has 24,176.
The Lakers blew the game open in the third at Staples Center arena by extending their lead to 20 points.
It was also the eighth win in the past nine game sfor the Lakers against the Bulls, who are in the midst of a lengthy six game road trip.
The Bulls were led by Derek Rose who had 20 points. John Salmons had 18 points with all coming in the opening half for the Bulls.
HORNETS 110, SUNS 103
In New Orleans, Peja Stojakovic hit seven three-pointers during a 25-point, 13-rebound performance in New Orleans’ victory over Phoenix.
Devin Brown and rookie shooting guard Marcus Thornton each scored 19 for the Hornets, who won their second straight under new head coach Jeff Bower.
The score was 96-96 when Stojakovic and rookie Darren Collison hit back-to-back 3s, and New Orleans held on from there.
JAZZ 90, SPURS 83
In San Antonio, Texas, Utah point guard Deron Williams racked up 21 points to help his team end its decade-long misery in San Antonio.
Utah had not won a regular-season game in San Antonio since 1999, a losing streak that spanned 20 games. Paul Millsap added 20 points for the Jazz.
Tim Duncan scored 21 points, and he has seldom seen San Antonio struggle at the start of a season like this.
The Spurs revamped their roster this summer, but they have their first losing record after 10 games since 1996.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
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