RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Kobe Bryant scored 31 points to lead the Los
Angeles Lakers to their first lopsided victory of the season,
111-91 over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night. The Lakers shot a season-high 68.3 percent en route to scoring
70 points in the first half _ both season highs _ as they won their
fifth straight at home. Shaquille O'Neal, still bothered by a sprained left ankle,
strained Achilles' tendon and sore thumbs, had 15 points, 14
rebounds and six blocked shots in 31 minutes for the Lakers. Antawn Jamison led Golden State with 28 points. On a night when the Warriors fell behind by double-digits in the
first quarter and couldn't dent that deficit, Bryant provided some
highlight moments. His 360-degree dunk on a breakaway in the first
quarter ignited the crowd and they kept cheering when he followed
with a 3-pointer. Bryant put down a one-handed dunk off an alley-oop pass from
rookie Mike Penberthy early in the second quarter. Bryant managed a
similar dunk with a pass from Greg Foster and the Lakers went into
the break leading 70-43. Bryant's spectacular moves went awry in the third quarter when
he badly missed a windmill dunk, then collapsed on his back
laughing. Lakers coach Phil Jackson benched Bryant soon after for a
couple of minutes. Golden State scored the first seven points of the fourth
quarter, but they still trailed by 22. A 3-pointer by Chris Mullin,
his second of the period, got the Warriors within 17 points with
less than three minutes left. The Lakers' reserves played much of
the final period. The Warriors ran off eight consecutive points to open the third
period, but they remained behind by 19. Notes: Isaiah Rider, who's been a model citizen since joining the
Lakers this season, received back-to-back technicals from referee
Jack Nies and was ejected early in the fourth quarter. ... Warriors
forward Danny Fortson had surgery Wednesday to repair a stress
fracture in his right foot. Doctors said he's expected to be out
about two months. Fortson was leading the NBA in rebounding at 16.3
per game when he was injured. ... Guard Mookie Blaylock didn't
travel with Golden State because of a stomach virus that also kept
him out of Tuesday night's win against Chicago. ... The Warriors
haven't scored 100 points in their last seven games. ... The
Lakers' previous biggest win this season was 16 points over Denver
on Nov. 14. ... The Lakers swept Golden State last season 4-0 and
have won six in a row over the Warriors, who are 3-17 against Los
Angeles in the last five seasons. ... Fans began walking out in
droves with about five minutes remaining, and few remained in the
courtside seats at the buzzer.
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