Lakers 104, Trail Blazers 87: Kobe Bryant had his streak of consecutive games with at least 30 points snapped but finished with a game-high 27 as host Los Angeles posted its sixth win in seven contests.
Dwight Howard contributed 21 points and 14 rebounds while Pau Gasol added 15 and nine for the Lakers, who have won three straight at home. Bryant was 9-of-18 from the field over the first three quarters but sat out the fourth, marking the first time in 11 games he finished under 30 points.
LaMarcus Aldridge scored 26 points before exiting with a sternal contusion and Damian Lillard and Will Barton chipped in 11 apiece for Portland, which has lost 19 of its last 22 on the road against Los Angeles.
Bryant scored 13 points in the first quarter as Los Angeles ended the period with a 34-25 lead. A 12-0 run late in the second that was capped by Gasol's 3-pointer with 2:53 remaining increased the advantage to 60-40.
Los Angeles finished the third with a 22-point cushion as Bryant poured in 12 points in the session. The superstar remained on the bench for the fourth as the Lakers scored just one point over the final 5:24.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The Trail Blazers have lost three straight road games overall and five consecutive meetings with the Lakers at the Staples Center. ... Portland C J.J. Hickson had two points and eight rebounds in 18 minutes, ending his streak of consecutive double-doubles at nine games. ... Trail Blazers F Nicolas Batum was 0-of-5 from beyond the arc, marking the first time in 23 games he failed to make at least one 3-pointer.
Portland | L.A. Lakers | |
LaMarcus Aldridge 26 | Scoring | Kobe Bryant 27 |
Nicolas Batum 8 | Assists | Steve Nash 10 |
J.J. Hickson 8 | Rebounds | Dwight Howard 14 |
Nolan Smith 3 | Free Throws Made | Kobe Bryant 8 |
Ronnie Price 2 | Steals | Kobe Bryant 2 |
Will Barton 2 | Blocks | Pau Gasol 3 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Portland | 87 | 41.4 | 3-19 | 12-16 | 24 | 44 | 5 | 7 | 9 |
L.A. Lakers | 104 | 46.5 | 7-24 | 17-28 | 29 | 52 | 7 | 4 | 11 |