The Los Angeles Lakers brushed aside NBA leaders San Antonio 99-83 to record their seventh consecutive win on Sunday and bring the Spurs’ hot home streak to a halt.
The Pacific-division leading Lakers still trail the Spurs by six-and-a-half games in the Western Conference, but ended San Antonio’s record home winning streak at 22 games.
Los Angeles closed out the final 8 minutes, 30 seconds of the first quarter on a 26-5 run and padded their lead in the second, going in 65-37 up at halftime.
Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 26 points and Pau Gasol scored 21. Tony Parker was the only Spurs starter to score in double digits with 14 points.
“We’re playing well and it’s kind of important to keep that going,” Bryant said. “Today was a good test to see how much we’ve improved since the All-Star break. We passed today.”
The Spurs shot a lowly 36 percent from the field and the starters scored just 29 points combined.
“That was an easy win for them. There was no game,” said Spurs guard Manu Ginobili, who scored just six points in more than 23 minutes of action.
“Nobody expects to be losing by more than 20 in the first quarter. They were making every shot and they played more angry. We were waiting to see what was going to happen, and they came to get it,” Ginobili added.
Despite a large lead, Lakers head coach Phil Jackson sent his starters back into the game in the fourth quarter to display his displeasure with the lack of focus displayed by his reserves.
“I didn’t like the way our bench was playing. They just didn’t have a rhythm out there and they were settling for outside shots. They were just out of focus a little bit,” Jackson said. “They understand. It [the lead] got under 20 points and the foul situation was in their favor. You just have to be careful in this game. It’s a game of extremes.”
Hornets 96, Cavaliers 81
In Cleveland, Ohio, Chris Paul left the court on a stretcher and suffered a concussion in the New Orleans Hornets’ victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The four-time All-Star lost the ball in the third quarter driving into the lane as he was defended by Ramon Sessions and Samardo Samuels. As Paul tried to retrieve the ball, he hit his forehead on Sessions’ right shoulder and immediately fell to the court. Paul stayed on the floor as trainers from both teams attended to him.
Paul, who was moving his legs and feet, was placed on a flat board and a brace was put on his neck. Players from both teams surrounded him. He was wheeled to the locker room and gave a thumbs up to the crowd as he left the court. He was taken to Cleveland Clinic for precautionary tests, then rejoined the team for their flight to Chicago. He was to miss yesterday’s game.
David West scored 23 points, while Paul had 13 points and 11 assists in 26 minutes.
Bulls 87, Heat 86
In Miami, Derrick Rose scored 27 points and Luol Deng capped an 18-point effort with two free throws that put Chicago ahead for good, as the Bulls handed Miami their fourth straight loss.
Carlos Boozer scored 12, while Joakim Noah added 11 for the Bulls, who moved a game ahead of Miami into outright possession of second place in the Eastern -Conference and beat the Heat for the third time this season.
LeBron James scored 26 points, Chris Bosh added 23 and Dwyane Wade had 20 for the Heat. James and Wade both missed shots that would have won the game for Miami in the final eight seconds.
In other NBA play, it was:
‧ Celtics 89, Bucks 83
‧ Grizzlies 104, Mavericks 103
‧ Knicks 92, Hawks 79
‧ Thunder 122, Suns 118, OT
‧ 76ers 125, Warriors 117, OT
‧ Pistons 113, Wizards 102
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