They lost their starting center to injury and traded a versatile forward. They beat the NBA champions and ended the league's longest home winning streak while their superstar battled the flu.
The Los Angeles Lakers had a road trip they won't soon forget.
Lamar Odom scored a season-high 28 points, picking up the slack for a shivering and sick Kobe Bryant, and the Lakers won their sixth straight game to finish up a difficult-but-memorable 11-day journey with a 101-91 win over Cleveland on Sunday.
The Lakers headed home as the first road team to beat the Cavaliers this season.
Odom scored 15 points during a pivotal third quarter, Bryant finished with 19 and Paul Gasol added 18 for the Lakers, whose six-game odyssey seemed doomed when center Andrew Bynum went down with a knee injury in the second game on Jan. 31 in Memphis .
But Bryant scored 61 in the Lakers' next game at New York , Los Angeles outlasted the Boston Celtics in overtime and then handled the Cavaliers despite Bryant being saddled with a bug so bad that he needed intravenous fluids at halftime and afterward.
Bryant was sickly. Odom was scintillating.
The 6-foot-10 forward, who can be a matchup nightmare because of his speed, was a Bryant-like force in the third. Odom scored on a variety of cuts and short shots while grabbing 10 rebounds as the Cavaliers, who lost forward Sasha Pavlovic in the first quarter with a sprained ankle, searched for a way to stop him.They never did and were outscored by the Lakers 50-30 after halftime.
"That was one of the best games he's played for us," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said of Odom. "He's had some spectacular games, but that was a terrific game. It was the total package of his game."
The Cavaliers came in 23-0 at home, just the fourth team to get off to such a start since the NBA-ABA merger in 1976. The loss was their first at home since the first round of last season's playoffs.
"I didn't want it to happen, but I'm glad it's over," James said.
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 Lakers ended Boston 's 19-game winning streak on Christmas Day and halted a 12-gamer by the Celtics earlier this week before stopping Cleveland 's home run.
"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."
Other Lakers Cavs News
Cavaliers News
Future Sports Star:
Kevin Love
Kevin Love has shown a skill level that is absolutely unheard of amongst big men in the college ranks-knocking down NBA 3-pointers with ease, putting the ball on the floor with either hand, using pump-fakes, spin-moves, jump-stops and creating his own shot with fantastic footwork. He's rebounding the ball well, throwing beautiful outlet passes, contesting shots around the basket, and even coming up with a few blocks on occasion.
•Playoff Game 1 Preview: Mavericks vs. Lakers
•Playoff Game 6 Preview: Hornets vs. Lakers
•Playoff Game 5 Preview: Hornets vs. Lakers
•Playoff Game 3 Preview: Hornets vs. Lakers
•Playoff Game 2 Preview: Hornets vs. Lakers
•Preview: Kings vs. Lakers
•Preview: Blazers vs. Lakers
•Preview: Jazz vs. Lakers
•Preview: Jazz vs. Lakers
•Preview: Mavericks vs. Lakers
•Preview: Heat vs. Lakers
•Preview: Hawks vs. Lakers
•Preview: Bobcats vs. Lakers
•Preview: Clippers vs. Lakers
•Preview: Blazers vs. Lakers
•Preview: Hawks vs. Lakers
•Preview: Celtics vs. Lakers
•Preview: Spurs vs. Lakers
•Preview: Nuggets vs. Lakers
•Preview: Mavericks vs. Lakers
•Preview: Thunder vs. Lakers
•Preview: Nets vs. Lakers
•Preview: Cavaliers vs. Lakers
•Preview: Hornets vs. Lakers
•Preview: Pistons vs. Lakers
•Preview: Heat vs. Lakers
•Preview: Kings vs. Lakers
•Preview: Jazz vs. Lakers
•Preview: Pistons vs. Lakers
•Preview: Timberwolves vs. Lakers
•Preview: Raptors vs. Lakers
•Finals Game 6 Preview: Celtics vs. Lakers
•Finals Game 3 Preview: Celtics vs. Lakers
•Finals Game 1 Preview: Celtics vs. Lakers
•WCF Game 4 Preview: Suns vs. Lakers
•WCF Game 1 Preview: Suns vs. Lakers
•Playoff Game 2 Preview: Jazz vs. Lakers
•Playoff Game 6 Preview: Thunder vs. Lakers
•Playoff Game 5 Preview: Thunder vs. Lakers
•Preview: Clippers vs. Lakers
•Preview: Nuggets vs. Lakers
•Preview: Thunder vs. Lakers
•Preview: Spurs vs. Lakers
•Preview: Timberwolves vs. Lakers
•Preview: Kings vs. Lakers
•Preview: 76ers vs. Lakers
•Preview: Mavericks vs. Lakers
•Preview: Spurs vs. Lakers
•Preview: Nuggets vs. Lakers
•Preview: Grizzlies vs. Lakers
•Preview: 76ers vs. Lakers
•Preview: Knicks vs. Lakers
•Preview: Clippers vs. Lakers
•Preview: Mavericks vs. Lakers
•Preview: Blazers vs. Lakers
•Preview: Rockets vs. Lakers
•Preview: Bucks vs. Lakers
•Preview: Timberwolves vs. Lakers
•Preview: Heat vs. Lakers
•Preview: Hornets vs. Lakers
•Preview: Warriors vs. Lakers
•Preview: Knicks vs. Lakers
•Preview: Bulls vs. Lakers
•Preview: Pistons vs. Lakers
•Preview: Nuggets vs. Lakers
•Preview: Suns vs. Lakers
•Preview: Grizzlies vs. Lakers
•Preview: Rockets vs. Lakers
•Preview: Mavericks vs. Lakers
•Preview: Clippers vs. Lakers
•NBA Finals Game 3 Preview: Magic vs. Lakers
•NBA Finals Game 1 Preview: Magic vs. Lakers
•Playoff Game 6 Preview: Nuggets vs. Lakers
•Playoff Game 5 Preview: Nuggets vs. Lakers
•Playoff Game 4 Preview: Nuggets vs. Lakers
•Playoff Game 2 Preview: Nuggets vs. Lakers
•Playoff Game 1 Preview: Nuggets vs. Lakers
•Playoff Game 6 Preview: Rockets vs. Lakers
•Playoff Game 5 Preview: Rockets vs Lakers
•Playoff Game 3 Preview: Rockets vs Lakers
•Playoff Game 2 Preview: Rockets vs Lakers
•Playoff Game 1 Preview: Rockets vs. Lakers
•Playoff Game 5 Preview: Jazz vs. Lakers
•Playoff Game 3 Preview: Jazz vs. Lakers
•Playoff Game 2 Preview: Jazz vs. Lakers
•Playoff Game 1 Preview: Jazz vs. Lakers
•Preview: Jazz vs. Lakers
•Preview: Trailblazers vs. Lakers
•Preview: Nuggets vs. Lakers
•Preview: Kings vs. Lakers
•Preview: Rockets vs. Lakers
•Preview: Bucks vs. Lakers
•Preview: Bobcats vs. Lakers
•Preview: Nets vs. Lakers
•Preview: Pistons vs. Lakers
•Preview: Thunder vs. Lakers
•Preview: Warriors vs. Lakers
•Preview: 76ers vs. Lakers
•Preview: Spurs vs. Lakers
•Preview: Blazers vs. Lakers
•Preview: Grizzlies vs. Lakers
•Preview: Nuggets vs. Lakers
•Preview: Suns vs. Lakers
•Preview: Thunder vs. Lakers
•Preview: Hornets vs. Lakers
•Preview: Warriors vs. Lakers
•Preview: Hawks vs. Lakers
•Preview: Jazz vs. Lakers
•Preview: Thunder vs. Lakers
•Preview: Celtics vs. Lakers
•Preview: Raptors vs. Lakers
•Preview: Timberwolves vs. Lakers
•Preview: Bobcats vs. Lakers
•Preview: Wizards vs. Lakers
•Preview: Clippers vs. Lakers
•Preview: Cavaliers vs. Lakers
•Preview: Magic vs. Lakers
•Preview: Rockets vs. Lakers
•Preview: Pacers vs. Lakers
•Preview: Warriors vs. Lakers
•Preview: Hornets vs. Lakers
•Preview: Jazz vs. Lakers
•Finals Game 6 Preview: Celtics vs. Lakers
•Finals Game 4 Preview: Celtics vs. Lakers
•Finals Game 3 Preview: Celtics vs. Lakers
•Finals Game 1 Preview: Celtics vs. Lakers
•Game 5 Preview: Spurs vs. Lakers
•Game 4 Preview: Spurs vs. Lakers
•Game 2 Preview: Spurs vs. Lakers
•Game 1 Preview: Spurs vs. Lakers
•Game 5 Preview: Jazz vs. Lakers
•Game 2 Preview: Jazz vs. Lakers
•Game 3 Preview: Nuggets vs. Lakers
•Game 2 Preview: Nuggets vs. Lakers
•Preview: Kings vs. Lakers
•Preview: Clippers vs. Lakers
•Preview: Grizzlies vs. Lakers
•Preview: Bobcats vs. Lakers
•Preview: Warriors vs. Lakers
•Preview: Mavericks vs. Lakers
•Preview: Raptors vs. Lakers
•Preview: Clippers vs. Lakers
•Preview: Heat vs. Lakers
•Preview: Suns vs. Lakers
•Preview: Timberwolves vs. Lakers
•Preview: Bobcats vs. Lakers
•Preview: Heat vs. Lakers
•Preview: Hawks vs. Lakers
•Preview: Pistons vs. Lakers
•Preview: Knicks vs. Lakers
•Preview: Mavericks vs. Lakers
•Preview: Spurs vs. Lakers
•Preview: Nuggets vs. Lakers
•Lakers Head to Seattle Without Injured Bynum
•Preview: Bucks vs. Lakers
•Preview: Grizzlies vs. Lakers
•Preview: 76ers vs. Lakers
•Preview: 76ers vs. Lakers
•Preview: Cavaliers vs. Lakers
•Preview: Bulls vs. Lakers
•Preview: Warriors vs. Lakers
•Preview: Spurs vs. Lakers
•Preview: Nuggets vs Lakers 12/05/07
•Preview: Timberwolves vs Lakers 12/04/07
•Preview: Nuggets vs Lakers 11/29/07
•Preview: Sonics vs Lakers 11/27/07
•Spurs vs Lakers Preview 11/13/07
•Preview: New Orleans Hornets at L.A. Lakers
•Lakers vs Rockets Preview 12/12/06
•Lakers vs Spurs Preview 12/10/06
•Lakers Vs Hawks Preview 12/08/06
•Lakers Vs Pacers 12/04/06
•Lakers Vs Clippers Preview 12/02/06
•Lakers vs Jazz Preview 11-30-06
•Lakers vs Bucks preview 11/28/06
•Lakers vs Nets preview 11/26/06
•Lakers vs Jazz preview 11/24/06
•Lakers vs Clippers preview 11/21/06
•Lakers vs Bulls preview 11/18/06
•Lakers Vs Raptors Preview
•Lakers Vs Pistons Preview
•Lakers Vs Grizzlies Preview
•Lakers Vs Pistons Preview
•Timberwolves Vs Lakers Preview
•Lakers Vs SuperSonics Preview
• Lakers Vs SuperSonics Preview
• Lakers Vs Warriors Preview
• Lakers Vs Suns Preview
Jordan Farmar news:
•Rookie Farmar says he's living Hollywood dream with Lakers
• Grizzlies challenge Farmar
• Stars come out at Camp
• NBA considerations distant memory for pair of eager Cats
Kobe Bryant news:
•Kobe Bryant apologizes to Lakers GM
•Kobe Bryant Wins Scoring Title
•Kobe has most popular jersey in USA, China
•Bryant Proves the Best
•Wade beats Bryant for another Skills Challenge win
•Memorabilia Offered by Kobe Bryant and Upper Deck
•Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant Suspended
•Why did Kobe change to 24?
•Kobe Bryant: Won't Play This Week
•Kobe Bryant to Collab with Lil Wayne
•Lakers' Kobe Bryant ready for another run as NBA season nears
•Kobe Bryant Dunk Videos
•Kobe Bryant Videos
•Kobe Bryant Scores the Cover of NBA '07 for PlayStation
•Los Angeles Lakers All-Star Kobe Bryant Scores the Cover of NBA '07
Los Angeles news:
• Los Angeles news
•Los Angeles Concerts news
• Beckham Signs with Los Angeles Galaxy
• Top 10 Most Valuable NBA Franchise
• 10 Ten things to do in Los Angeles
• Lower back spasms from the court.
• Top 10 Los Angeles Restaurants.
• Top 10 Los Angeles Experiences
Staples Center news:
•Get up to the minute Los Angeles Concert tour news
•Garth Brooks To Play Staples Center Benefit Shows For Fire Victims
•Bon Jovi Staples Center
•Van Halen Staples Center Dec 14th
•Wild try to continue hot start in LA
•Hyundai Returns to X Games 13 Rally Car Racing
• Rumorville Eric Clapton to play the Staples Center
• Grady Brewer wins 'Contender 2' in a split decision over Steve Forbes
• Cirque comes the LA Staples Center
Phil Jackson news:
• Lakers coach Jackson fined US$25,000
• Phil Jackson to have hip surgery
|