NBA wrap: Lakers blow out Kings, easily snap 4-game skid

LOS ANGELES — Kobe Bryant scored 22 points, Pau Gasol added 16 despite a strained left hamstring, and the Los Angeles Lakers easily snapped a four-game losing streak with a 113-80 victory over the struggling Sacramento Kings on Friday night. Lamar Odom had 16 points and seven rebounds as the two-time defending champions capitalized on nearly optimal conditions for ending their longest skid since April 2007. Los Angeles jumped to an 18-point lead on lowly Sacramento in the first half and stretched it to 32 before Bryant and Gasol wrapped up their evenings late in the third quarter. Jason Thompson scored 19 for the Kings, who have lost six straight and 12 of 13. Tyreke Evans added 15 points on 5-of-15 shooting, and Pooh Jeter scored 11 in 12 minutes of garbage time for Sacramento, which has lost eight straight to Los Angeles. The Lakers reeked of veteran calm while dealing with their longest losing stretch since Gasol joined the team nearly three years ago — although a loss to lowly Sacramento would have been a valid reason to freak out. The Lakers weren't blown out in any game during their skid after a 13-2 start, losing in the final minutes to Utah, Indiana, Memphis and Houston since Thanksgiving. While their fans grumbled a bit, Bryant claimed the only thing Los Angeles lacked was defense — something it hardly needed against Sacramento. Gasol played a season-low 27 minutes against the Kings, and Bryant logged just 26. The Lakers also have the next three days off before Washington visits next week. Every player scored for Los Angeles — even Ron Artest, who had just two points in 28 minutes. Steve Blake hit three 3-pointers while scoring 11 points, Shannon Brown had 12, and rookies Derrick Caracter and Devin Ebanks each hit their modest career highs. Celtics 104, Bulls 92 At Boston, Kevin Garnett scored 20 points with a season-high 17 rebounds, and Rajon Rondo scored 12 and had 19 assists on Friday to lead the Boston Celtics to their sixth straight win, a 104-92 victory over the Chicago Bulls. Ray Allen scored 14 and Paul Pierce had 18 for Boston, which never trailed. Derrick Rose scored 20 with eight assists, and Joakim Noah had 14 points and 10 rebounds for Chicago. Carlos Boozer scored 12 points in 21 minutes in his second game since missing the first month of the season with a broken bone in his right hand. Knicks 100, Hornets 92 At New Orleans, Amare Stoudemire had 34 points and 10 assists to power New York to its eighth win in nine games. Wilson Trevor Ariza had a season-high 21 points for New Orleans, which was without David West because of a stomach virus. Chris Paul had 17 points and 10 assists. Chandler, who scored 14, made four 3s, while Danilo Gallinari and Williams made three each. Raptors 111, Thunder 99 At Toronto, Andrea Bargnani had 26 points and 12 rebounds for his first double-double of the season and Leandro Barbosa scored a season-high 22 points as Toronto downed Oklahoma City. Russell Westbrook and James Harden each scored 20 points, Jeff Green had 17 and Nenad Krstic 10 for the Thunder. Wizards 83, Trail Blazers 79 At Washington, the Wizards held Portland to 10 points in the third quarter and a season-worst 33.3 shooting percentage to win despite getting only 10 points on 3-of-13 shooting and a career-low two assists from top draft pick John Wall. Gilbert Arenas picked up some of the slack, with 15 points and six assists in a reserve role. Brandon Roy led the way with 18 points for Portland. Magic 104, Pistons 91 At Auburn Hills, Michigan, Brandon Bass scored a career-high 27 points as Orlando overcame a stomach virus that sidelined four key players. Orlando was without star center Dwight Howard, and Jameer Nelson, J.J. Redick and Mickael Pietrus were also unavailable because of the stomach bug. In spite of all that, the Magic were able to win their sixth straight game. Vince Carter added 25 points for the Magic. Tayshaun Prince scored 30 for Detroit. Rockets 127, Grizzlies 111 At Memphis, Tennessee, Kyle Lowry scored a career-high 28 points and matched his career best with 12 assists as Houston beat Memphis. Kevin Martin also had 28 points, while Brad Miller contributed a season-high 23 points in Houston's sixth straight win over Memphis. All have been by 10 points or more. Courtney Lee scored 16 points for the Rockets, while Luis Scola added 15 points. Rudy Gay led Memphis with 29 points, while Marc Gasol had 20. Mike Conley finished with 19 points and eight assists. Bobcats 91, Nets 84 (OT) At Charlotte, North Carolina, Stephen Jackson scored 25 points and Boris Diaw added a career-best 16 rebounds as Charlotte recovered from a fourth-quarter meltdown. After the Bobcats blew a seven-point lead with just over a minute left in regulation, Jackson hit four straight free throws in the final 31 seconds of OT. Travis Outlaw scored 21 points and hit two free throws to force OT and Charlotte native Anthony Morrow added 19 for the Nets, who were without injured Devin Harris. Hawks 93, 76ers 88 At Atlanta, Al Horford's three-point play with 31 seconds remaining gave Atlanta its fifth straight win. The Hawks trailed 85-72 in the final quarter before closing out the game with a 21-3 run. Marvin Williams led Atlanta with 22 points. Horford made a jumper with 1:24 left to trim the 76ers' lead to 88-86. Following a miss by Elton Brand, Horford scored again and was fouled by Tony Battie. He made the resulting free throw to put Atlanta in front. Nuggets 109, Clippers 104 At Denver, Carmelo Anthony scored 26 points and J.R. Smith had 21 as Denver held off Los Angeles to win its sixth straight and give coach George Karl his 998th career win. Eric Gordon had 24 points and rookie Blake Griffin had 17 points and 12 rebounds for the Clippers. Karl, seventh on the career wins list and fourth among active coaches, said before the game he hopes to sign an extension with the Nuggets soon. Spurs 107, Timberwolves 101 At San Antonio, Tim Duncan scored 22 points and had 10 rebounds to help San Antonio rally from a 15-point deficit to beat Minnesota. Tony Parker and George Hill added 20 points apiece for the Spurs, who improved their NBA-best record to 16-3. Manu Ginobili had 16 and Richard Jefferson scored 15. Michael Beasley scored 28 points and Kevin Love had 25 points and 18 rebounds for Minnesota. Suns 105, Pacers 97 At Phoenix, Channing Frye scored a season-high 29 points and Jason Richardson added 21 as Phoenix rallied to beat road-weary Indiana. Jared Dudley scored 12 points for the Suns, and Steve Nash had 12 points and 11 assists. Brandon Rush led the Pacers with 19 points, Josh McRoberts had a season-high 16 and Mike Dunleavy also scored 16. – AP