Kobe, Gasol lead Lakers past Cavaliers 105-88

[January 20, 2009]  LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Kobe Bryant and LeBron James tussled to a virtual standoff Monday night. But Bryant's supporting cast was far more effective, and that was the difference as the Los Angeles Lakers beat Cleveland 105-88 to snap a five-game losing streak to the Cavaliers.

Bryant had 20 points, six rebounds and 12 assists while shooting 9-of-22. Pau Gasol led Los Angeles with 22 points and 12 rebounds. Andrew Bynum and Sasha Vujacic scored 14 points each and Derek Fisher added 11 for the Lakers, whose 32-8 record is tops in the Western Conference.

James had 23 points and nine rebounds, but shot just 9-of-25. Mo Williams added 16 points, six rebounds and five assists and Sasha Pavlovic scored 12 for the Cavaliers (31-8), who absorbed their most one-sided loss of the season.

Bryant scored nine points during a 16-7 run to start the fourth quarter, giving the Lakers a 91-73 lead with 6:35 remaining. But just when the game seemed out of reach, the Cavaliers scored 11 straight points in three minutes to make it 91-84.

A jumper by Fisher ended the drought, and after a foul shot by James, Gasol scored on a dunk and Trevor Ariza made a 3-pointer to give the Lakers a 13-point lead, and the Cavaliers went quietly after that.

Gasol scored eight points and Bryant added six during a 22-10 run that gave the Lakers a 75-64 lead -- largest of the game for either team to that stage. It was 75-66 entering the fourth quarter.

Wally Szczeriak scored seven straight points to give Cleveland a 38-37 lead, and the Cavaliers led 50-49 at halftime. James shot 4-of-11 and scored 10 points in the half while Bryant went 2-of-5 including a 15-footer with less than a second left in the half for five points, but he had six assists.

Bryant began the game guarding James, and the fans reacted with a murmur of anticipation when they saw the matchup.

Bryant, guarded by Pavlovic early on, dislocated the ring finger on his shooting hand in the opening two minutes, but trainer Gary Vitti popped it back into place and Bryant played on without coming out of the game or showing any ill effects.

Notes: Lakers F Luke Walton (injured right foot) missed his ninth straight game, although coach Phil Jackson said before the game that Walton was available. ... With Lamar Odom (right knee) and Sasha Vujacic (back spasms) having returned to action in recent days, the only unavailable player for the Lakers right now is G Jordan Farmar (left knee). ... The Cavaliers played without C Zydrunas Ilgauskas (left ankle), G Delonte West (right wrist) and G Eric Snow (left knee). ... The Lakers have an 8-2 record against the Cavaliers at Staples Center since the arena opened in 1999, but had lost the previous two home games to Cleveland. ... The game was the opener of a four-game trip for the Cavaliers, who are 11-8 on the road and have lost four of their last five road games. ... The Cavaliers are 11-2 against Western Conference teams and the Lakers are 11-5 against the East. ... The game was the second of six straight for the Lakers at Staples Center including a designated road game against the Clippers on Wednesday night.

[Associated Press; By JOHN NADEL]

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