Lakers End Cavaliers 23-0 Home Streak

Even though Kobe Bryant was very sick with flu like symptoms it was the Cleveland Cavaliers that looked like they were sick and were suffering from something unknown.


Some Fun Facts
• The Lakers became the first team in NBA history to win back-to-back games, both on the road, against teams with .800-plus win percentage at least 40 games into the season.
• The Cavaliers lost a home game for the first time since April 16, 2008 against the Pistons in the final game of last year.
• The Lakers finished their road trip with a perfect 6-0 record. The last time the Lakers finished a road trip at least 6-0 was in the 1999-00 season which was the first year of their three straight NBA titles. :) The last team to go at least 6-0 on a road trip was the Mavericks during the 2006-07 season.
• The Lakers held the Cavaliers to a low scoring 30 points in the second half.
• Lamar Odom led the Lakers with 28 points and 17 rebounds, both season highs. Odom had 15 points and 10 rebounds in the third quarter when the Lakers outscored the Cavaliers 31-16 after trailing by 10 at the half.

With Bryant suffering from the flu, Lamar Odom scored a season-high 28 points -- 15 in the third quarter alone and Pau 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 and it was one heck of a road trip for sure!! The Los Angeles Lakers kept their hard working attitudes in check and won some huge games even with their big center out for a few months due to a serious injury and with their star player, Kobe Bryant so ill he could hardly stand up on the court.



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. "I missed a lot of easy looks that I usually make."


The Cavaliers came in 23-0 at Quicken Loans Arena, but were stopped by the Lakers, who are gaining a reputation for stopping streaks. They ended Boston's 19-game winning streak on Christmas Day and halted a 12-game run by the Celtics earlier this week. This was Cleveland's first loss at home since Game 5 against Washington in the first round of last season's playoffs. "I didn't want it to happen," James said. "But I'm glad it's over."



The Lakers weren't intimidated at all in one of the NBA's rowdiest arena and went undefeated on a road trip that also included stops in Minnesota, Memphis, New York, Toronto and Boston. Los Angeles' trip started rocky with center Andrew Bynum injuring his knee against the Grizzlies, but it couldn't have ended any better. Beginning with Bryant's record setting 61 point performance against the Knicks, the Lakers have gone 4-0 without Bynum. They didn't commit a turnover in the final 19:28 against the Cavs.


"We're playing for perfection, Odom said, and in order to do that, it takes a lot of energy, focus and commitment to winning and doing whatever it takes. We got production from everyone."



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."


Cleveland's crowd was at a playoff pitch from the outset for one of the most anticipated games of the season, a matchup of the league's top stars, both leading MVP candidates, and two of the NBA's best teams. But the game never materialized into a Bryant vs. James affair as Odom completely stole the spotlight. Great job Lamar!

NEXT LAKERS GAME: Oklahoma City Thunder @ Los Angeles Lakers Tues. Feb. 10th 7:30 PM (PST)