Lakers beat Cavs 101-91 to end home winning streak
Published 4:00 am Monday, February 9, 2009
- Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant (24) shoots over Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James (23) during the NBA basketball game on Sunday, in Cleveland.
CLEVELAND — Kobe Bryant was sick. The Cleveland Cavaliers just looked it.
With Bryant suffering from the flu, Lamar Odom scored a season-high 28 points — 15 in the third quarter— and Paul Gasol scored 18 as the streak-busting Los Angeles Lakers dominated the second half and handed Cleveland its first home loss this season, 101-91 on Sunday to complete a 6-0 road trip.
Bryant was not himself. The superstar vomited before the game, shivered with chills throughout and needed intravenous fluids at halftime. But Odom picked up the offensive slack, helped contain LeBron James on defense, and was the biggest factor in the Lakers outscoring the Cavaliers 50-30 after halftime.
“That was one of the best games he’s played for us,” Lakers coach Phil Jackson said of the enigmatic Odom. “He’s had some spectacular games, but that was a terrific game. It was the total package of his game. He broke people down with his speed and quickness to the basket and got some easy shots.”
It’s been a tough few days for Cleveland. First, guard Mo Williams was bypassed for the second time as an All-Star. Then, James had his apparent historic triple-double in New York downgraded by an NBA review, and now, the Cavaliers have had their invincibility at home stripped by the road-weary Lakers.
“You have to give the Lakers credit,” said James, who scored 16 but missed 15 of his 20 field-goal tries.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas scored 22 to lead Cleveland, which shot just 28 percent (11-of-39) in the second half and didn’t play its customary shutdown defense. Williams, whose All-Star snub had infuriated the Cavs, scored 19 and James finished with 12 assists and eight rebounds.
Odom, who added a season-best 17 rebounds, was unstoppable in the third, when the Lakers outscored the Cavaliers 31-16 and turned a 10-point deficit into a 82-77 lead entering the fourth.
“I never play the game for stats,” Odom said. “It’s all about winning.”
Guarded by Wally Szczerbiak and rookie J.J. Hickson, Odom scored 13 of Los Angeles’ last 16 points to close the quarter, capping his one-man scorefest with a two-handed dunk off a miss in the final second as the Lakers became just the fourth team this season to lead Cleveland at home after three.
Los Angeles pushed its lead to 10 in the fourth before the Cavaliers closed to 93-89 on two free throws by Ilgauskas with 3:06 left. But Bryant hit a high-arching fadeaway, and Gasol dropped one of two free throws to make it 96-89 when the jumbo scoreboard above midcourt went dark, a symbolic moment for Cleveland’s players and fans.
James was stripped on the Cavs’ next possession, and Gasol made two more free throws and scored on a putback as the Lakers put an exclamation point on one of their biggest wins this season.
Also on Sunday:
Spurs 105
Celtics 99
BOSTON — Roger Mason pulled up and leaned into a three-pointer with 20.4 seconds left, and Tim Duncan scored 23 points with 13 rebounds to lead San Antonio.
Suns 107
Pistons 97
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Steve Nash scored 15 and had a season-high 21 assists, directing a balanced offense for Phoenix.
Warriors 116
Jazz 96
OAKLAND, Calif. — Corey Maggette scored 24 points and Stephen Jackson had 20 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists in Golden State’s latest impressive home victory.
Hornets 101
Timberwolves 97
NEW ORLEANS — Sean Marks dunked with 7.8 seconds left to cap a career-high 18-point effort, and short-handed New Orleans overcame the ejection of David West.
Magic 101
Nets 84
ORLANDO, Fla. — Dwight Howard had 30 points and 16 rebounds to lift Orlando to a victory against New Jersey, which played without Vince Carter.
Heat 96
Bobcats 92
MIAMI — Dwyane Wade shook off flu-like symptoms to score 22 points and regain the NBA scoring lead, rookie Mario Chalmers scored 16 and added a career-best 13 assists, and Miami held off Charlotte.
Wizards 119
Pacers 117
WASHINGTON — Caron Butler scored 15 straight points, including a game-winning 18-footer at the buzzer and Washington beat Indiana.
Thunder 116
Kings 113
OKLAHOMA CITY — Kevin Durant scored 39 points and Oklahoma City held off Sacramento after blowing a 19-point second-quarter lead.