Lakers beat Grizzlies for 6th straight home win

[January 09, 2012]  LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Kobe Bryant scored 26 points, Andrew Bynum had 15 points and 15 rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Memphis Grizzlies 90-82 Sunday night for their sixth consecutive home victory.

Matt Barnes scored 15 points and Pau Gasol had 13 points and 15 rebounds for the Lakers, who have won six of eight after an 0-2 start despite playing the NBA's busiest early-season schedule, matching Oklahoma City with 10 games in the first 15 days.

Although they haven't lost at Staples Center since their season opener on Christmas, the Lakers committed a season-high 27 turnovers and never pulled away from the injury-depleted Grizzlies. Memphis had beaten Los Angeles in two of the last three meetings, including a 19-point blowout in the Grizzlies' last trip to Staples.

Rudy Gay scored 19 points to lead five players in double figures for Memphis, which wrapped up a three-game road trip with an unimpressive fourth quarter. The Grizzlies have lost two straight after winning their first two games following Zach Randolph's serious knee injury.

Marreese Speights scored 17 points, O.J. Mayo had 15 and Quincy Pondexter added 14 for the Grizzlies.

Barnes, who joined the Lakers' starting lineup last week, energized the club for the second straight game with strong defense in the fourth quarter, including a dramatic block of Speights' layup attempt with 3:34 to play.

Bryant had just four points in the fourth quarter, failing to score 30 points for the first time in four games. Los Angeles managed just 12 points on 5-for-18 shooting, but the Grizzlies had only 14 points of their own, never getting closer than four points.

At least the Lakers' awful 3-point shooting improved, with Steve Blake hitting three of the Lakers' six 3s.

Pau Gasol rarely guarded his younger brother, Marc, who managed just two points on 0-for-9 shooting. The Spanish brothers, traded for each other in early 2008, went to dinner on Saturday night in their usual tradition.

The Lakers responded well to a rare off day, jumping to a nine-point lead in the first quarter with strong play in the half court on both ends. Los Angeles stretched its lead to 14 points in the second quarter, repeatedly scoring inside against the Grizzlies' patchwork frontcourt with playmaking by Bryant and Pau Gasol.

The Grizzlies were among the few NBA teams who could match the Lakers' twin 7-foot stars in the low post, but long-term injuries to Randolph and Darrell Arthur have compromised their depth. Memphis had its usual success against the Lakers in transition, but couldn't score consistently in half-court sets.

Memphis scored the first six points of the fourth quarter to trim the Lakers' lead to 78-74. Los Angeles missed its first seven shots of the final period, but the Grizzlies never got closer.

NOTES: Lakers F Josh McRoberts missed his fourth consecutive game with a sprained left big toe. He intends to return within a week. ... Fans near courtside included Rihanna, Bradley Cooper, David Arquette, Los Angeles Kings forward Mike Richards and Anthony Kiedis, who had a walking boot on his right foot.

[Associated Press; By GREG BEACHAM]

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