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Unbeaten Lakers hold off Clippers with late flourish
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-11-06 15:28 LOS ANGELES - Kobe Bryant scored a game-high 27 points to help the Los Angeles Lakers fend off a spirited display by the Los Angeles Clippers with a 106-88 win on Wednesday.
League MVP Bryant also weighed in with two rebounds and three assists at a packed Staples Center as the Western Conference champions extended their unbeaten record to 4-0 this season. Veteran guard Derek Fisher contributed 13 points, towering forward Andrew Bynum 17 rebounds and Lamar Odom added 15 points from the bench to consign their local rivals to a fifth successive defeat. Although forward Al Thornton top-scored for the Clippers with 22 points and twice All-Star guard Baron Davis registered 17, the Lakers took control of a tight game late in the final period. With the bearded Davis pouring in 10 points early on, the fast-running Clippers raced into a five-point lead before ending an explosive first quarter with a 29-27 advantage. The Lakers' back-up unit opened the second period with eight unanswered points to put the home team 35-29 up before the Clippers fought back to edge ahead 51-47 by halftime. A superb reverse lay-up by Bryant levelled the scores at 53-53 early in the third quarter, prompting reverberating chants of "MVP, MVP" from the fans. Two three-pointers from Vladimir Radmanovic helped the Lakers wrest the initiative from the Clippers and establish a 72-68 cushion going into the final period. The Lakers finally broke clear in the last six minutes, Jordan Farmar putting them 88-81 ahead with a lay-up and Fisher's three-point jumper stretching the advantage to 91-81 with 4:59 remaining. |
