MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Kobe Bryant scored 27 points and the Los Angeles Lakers completed a successful, six-game road trip with a 94-79 victory Wednesday night over the Memphis Grizzlies.
The victory gave the Lakers a 5-1 record on the trip and snapped a five-game losing streak in Memphis. The Grizzlies dropped their third straight, their longest skid of the season.
Bryant, who also had eight rebounds, connected on 10 of 17 shots from the field and missed only two of 11 attempts in the second and third periods. Los Angeles’ 73-52 lead after three allowed Bryant to rest comfortably on the bench in the fourth quarter watching the Lakers’ reserves maintain the advantage.
Lamar Odom scored 14 for Los Angeles, and Smush Parker finished with 13.
Mike Miller led Memphis with 21 points, while rookie Hakim Warrick matched his season high with 11. Antonio Burks finished with 11 points and leading scorer Pau Gasol added 10, most coming in the fourth when the game was no longer in doubt. Gasol grabbed 12 rebounds.
If Bryant’s performance wasn’t enough, the Lakers dominated inside, outrebounding the Grizzlies 48-38 and outscoring Memphis in the paint 48-32.
The Lakers used 14 first-half points from Bryant to build a 45-37 lead at the break. With Shane Battier, Memphis’ leading defender, out with an injury, the Grizzlies relied primarily on Eddie Jones to guard the NBA’s second-leading scorer. Bryant went 5-of-11 from the field as the Lakers shot 44 percent and led by as many as 10.
Memphis, which struggled with poor shooting the previous two games, missed five of its first six shots from the field. Gasol missed six of his eight attempts in the half, while starting guards Jones and Damon Stoudamire were a combined 2-of-11. They finished the game 4-of-18.
Los Angeles extended the lead at the start of the second half. Bryant hit his first four shots – part of an 8-of-11 burst for the Lakers – to build the advantage to 63-47. Los Angeles led by 23 in the period.
Notes: Battier did not dress because of a jammed right index finger injured in Monday’s practice. He had started all previous 20 games this season. His status is day-to-day. Miller started in his place. … With Battier and G Bobby Jackson (right hamstring) injured, the Grizzlies dressed F Brian Cardinal, who had sat out the season thus far recovering from knee surgery. He played 9 minutes and scored three points.
AP-ES-12-14-05 2242EST
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