Kobe Bryant explained why the Celtics had a letdown and the Lakers didn't following the rivals' intense game several days earlier. "They had won 19 straight games, so they were due for a couple of bad ones," Bryant said Sunday night after scoring 31 points in Los Angeles' 130-113 romp over the Golden State Warriors. "For us, we just wanted to move on. We were ready to go. We knew what we had to do, so it was pretty easy for us to switch gears and come out and perform." FUN FACTS
• The Lakers scored a season-high 130 points and tied a season-high 10 3-pointers as they won their 13th straight home game.
• The Lakers are 16-0 when Kobe Bryant attempts 20 shots or fewer (9-5 in games he attempts more than 20 shots).
• There have been seven games in which a team has scored over 130 points this season and Golden State has allowed over 130 points in four of those games.
While the Lakers breezed to a win in their first game since a 92-83 victory over the defending NBA champions on Christmas Day, the Celtics stumbled again the following night and lost 99-89 at Golden State. They were able to get back on track Sunday, however, pounding the Kings 108-63 at Sacramento.
Bryant understands the momentum changes. "It's a long season, so people go through emotions and things,"he said. "It's just an energy thing, because it's such a long season. I don't think people truly understand how long it is, because of the travel and things like that. So you have ups and downs."
Warriors coach Don Nelson said even before playing the Lakers that they were the league's best team. After the loss, he obviously had no reason to change his mind. "They have the whole package and they have a chance to win the whole thing this year," he said. He considers Bryant's expanded role a big part of that. "Kobe now has a grasp on the game like no other player and he controls it when he wants to," Nelson said. "He makes the players alongside him succeed and he is a real leader out there. "He has the whole package going for him; he is not just the best player in the league but, probably the best leader," he said.
Derek Fisher added 19 points in the win and Sasha Vujacic had 17. Pau Gasol continued to show his leadership and had 13 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, and Center Andrew Bynum chipped in with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Jamal Crawford returned to the Warriors' lineup after missing two games with a groin strain and scored 22 points. Marco Belinelli and Brandan Wright had 14 points a piece, and Andris Biedrins had eight points and 17 rebounds.
"Our defense wasn't even close to what we had against Boston and it definitely showed," said the Warriors Stephen Jackson, who scored nine points. "We didn't approach the game the same way we did the Boston game. We had more intensity, were up for that game and we weren't today."
Los Angeles took control with a 37-point third quarter that increased the lead from 65-58 at halftime to 102-85 heading into the final period.
Key notes of the game: The Warriors finished with 17 turnovers that Los Angeles converted into 31 points. The Lakers had 16 turnovers that were turned into 17 points. The Warriors are still without leading scorer Corey Maggette (19.1 ppg), who has missed 12 games with a strained hamstring. The Warriors and Lakers split four games last season. This was the first game between these two teams this season. The next game that they face each other is in Golden State on Wednesday January 7th @ 7:30 pm (PST)
Bryant understands the momentum changes. "It's a long season, so people go through emotions and things,"he said. "It's just an energy thing, because it's such a long season. I don't think people truly understand how long it is, because of the travel and things like that. So you have ups and downs."Warriors coach Don Nelson said even before playing the Lakers that they were the league's best team. After the loss, he obviously had no reason to change his mind. "They have the whole package and they have a chance to win the whole thing this year," he said. He considers Bryant's expanded role a big part of that. "Kobe now has a grasp on the game like no other player and he controls it when he wants to," Nelson said. "He makes the players alongside him succeed and he is a real leader out there. "He has the whole package going for him; he is not just the best player in the league but, probably the best leader," he said.
Derek Fisher added 19 points in the win and Sasha Vujacic had 17. Pau Gasol continued to show his leadership and had 13 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, and Center Andrew Bynum chipped in with 13 points and 10 rebounds.Jamal Crawford returned to the Warriors' lineup after missing two games with a groin strain and scored 22 points. Marco Belinelli and Brandan Wright had 14 points a piece, and Andris Biedrins had eight points and 17 rebounds.
"Our defense wasn't even close to what we had against Boston and it definitely showed," said the Warriors Stephen Jackson, who scored nine points. "We didn't approach the game the same way we did the Boston game. We had more intensity, were up for that game and we weren't today."
Los Angeles took control with a 37-point third quarter that increased the lead from 65-58 at halftime to 102-85 heading into the final period.
Key notes of the game: The Warriors finished with 17 turnovers that Los Angeles converted into 31 points. The Lakers had 16 turnovers that were turned into 17 points. The Warriors are still without leading scorer Corey Maggette (19.1 ppg), who has missed 12 games with a strained hamstring. The Warriors and Lakers split four games last season. This was the first game between these two teams this season. The next game that they face each other is in Golden State on Wednesday January 7th @ 7:30 pm (PST)
Next Lakers game is Friday January 2nd vs the Utah Jazz @ 7:30 PM (PST)
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