Monday, January 07, 2008
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Bryant, Bynum Lead Lakers

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[January 07, 2008]  LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Kobe Bryant scored 12 of his 26 points in the third quarter, Andrew Bynum had 23 points and 13 rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Indiana Pacers 112-96 Sunday night for their 12th win in 15 games.

Derek Fisher scored 22 points, Lamar Odom had 13 points and 13 rebounds, and Luke Walton added 10 points and seven assists for the Lakers (21-11), who moved a season-high 10 games over .500 in their second game in a stretch of seven where all but one have losing records.

The Lakers also raised their record to 6-0 when all five starters score in double figures.

With Bryant, Bynum, Fisher and Walton on the bench, the Pacers went on a 13-2 run to start the fourth quarter, trimming the Lakers' lead to 92-85 with 6:16 remaining.

The Lakers took a timeout at that stage and inserted their starters, and the move paid off. Bryant made two jumpers and Fisher added three 3-pointers during a 16-0 spurt that broke open the game.

Mike Dunleavy led Indiana (16-19) with 17 points. Danny Granger added 14 points, Jermaine O'Neal scored 13 and Kareem Rush had 12 for the Pacers, who lost their fifth straight road game and for the sixth time in seven games overall.

The Lakers shot 46.2 percent to Indiana's 41.6 percent and went 30-of-38 from the foul line to the Pacers' 11-of-17.

Bryant shot 2-for-12 before making four straight, including two 3-pointers, to spark a 19-5 run that gave the Lakers an 82-64 lead. It was 90-72 entering the final period.

Granger and Troy Murphy scored five points apiece during a 16-5 Indiana run that tied the game 44-all late in the second quarter. The Lakers led 55-53 at halftime, and were on top the rest of the way.

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The Lakers, coming off a 66.2 percent shooting performance in a 124-93 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers, missed their first seven attempts while falling behind 9-0 in the first 3 1/2 minutes.

The Pacers led 14-4 before the Lakers got untracked. Bynum scored 12 points during a 29-9 run to finish the first period, giving them a 33-23 lead.

Notes: Pacers G Jamaal Tinsley missed his fifth game due to a sore left hamstring. Coach Jim O'Brien said he hopes Tinsley will return during the team's five-game road trip that began with this game. ... Los Angeles reserves Vladimir Radmanovic (sprained right ankle) and Sasha Vujacic (sprained left ankle and back spasms) each sat out their second game. ... The Lakers are a perfect 9-0 against the Pacers at Staples Center, which opened before the 1999-2000 season. ... The Lakers swept the season series with the Pacers for the first time since the 2002-03 season. The teams split each of the past four years, winning at home and losing on the road. ... Lakers coach Phil Jackson, who moved past Red Auerbach into seventh place on the career coaching victory list Friday night, needs four more to move into a tie for sixth place with Bill Fitch, who had 944 wins. ... Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy, whose team lost 88-82 earlier Sunday in the opener of an NBA doubleheader, stuck around to watch his son play against the Lakers.

[Associated Press; By JOHN NADEL]

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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