Lakers Vs Wizards Tickets
GAME: Washington Wizards (11-11) at L.A. Lakers Lakers (16-7)
DATE/TIME: Sunday, December 17 - 9:30 PM EST
SPREAD: Los Angeles -5 TOTAL: 212

Kobe Bryant looks to build off his best offensive performance of the season Sunday when his Los Angeles Lakers host the Washington Wizards.

Bryant scored a season-high 53 points and added 10 rebounds and eight assists to help the Lakers(16-7) come back from a 21-point deficit and beat Houston Rockets 112-101 in double overtime on Friday. He has 13 career 50-point performances, with Los Angeles going 10-3 in those games.

"We had a couple baskets here and there from other guys as we went along, but I had to go to Kobe to get accomplished what we had to do in a win," coach Phil Jackson said.

Bryant , who had knee surgery in the offseason, averaged 24.1 points through his first 12 games but has upped that mark to 33.6 over his last eight contests.

"It felt great for me," said Bryant , who also recently sprained his right ankle. "It confirmed for me that my legs are back. Playing long minutes, I'm still able to get to the basket and explode."

The victory was the fourth in five games for the Lakers, who were without second-leading scorer Lamar Odom for the second straight contest. Lamar Odom sprained his knee in Tuesday's 102-94 win at Houston and will be out at least a month.

"We buckled down and played some defense. That's all it took," said Smush Parker, who had 17 points Friday. "It's a big victory for us, fighting from 21 points down without one of our best players on the team."

Bryant and the Lakers will be looking to slow down a Wizards team that has won seven of its last nine. Washington (11-11) beat Miami Heat 106-95 on Friday, improving to .500 for the first time since it was 3-3.

"Last year, we started off the season hot, and we hit December and tanked it," guard Gilbert Arenas said. "This December, we're playing great basketball."

Arenas scored 27 points Friday, snapping a string of five straight games with 30 or more, and Caron Butler had 30 points and nine rebounds. The Wizards, who are just 2-8 on the road, are kicking off a four-game trip.

Center Etan Thomas will miss the trip because of a sprained left ankle.

While Friday's victory ended a 16-game losing streak against the Heat, the Wizards have had more success recently against the Lakers, winning three of the last four meetings. Washington, though, has lost 12 of its last 13 road games against Los Angeles.

"Being motivated because of a streak is not what we are looking at," coach Eddie Jordan told the team's official Web site. "We are looking at what the Wizards have to do to get better at both ends of the floor on a nightly basis, it is the here and the now - not what people predict for us."

akers vs Wizards News
02/03/07Lakers 118, Wizards 102
12/17/06 Washington 147, L.A. Lakers 141
12/17/06 Lakers Wizards Preview

NBA Future:
Jrue Holiday
Check out Jrue Holiday, the 6-3 sophomore shooting guard from North Hollywood (Calif.) Campbell Hall, one of the elite guards in the west, regardless of class...

Jrue Holiday, the 6-3 sophomore shooting guard from North Hollywood (Calif.) Campbell Hall, is seen here in action from a CIF playoff game last week.

Jrue Holiday is #21 in white, not to be confused with his older brother, 6-6 junior Justin Holiday, who is #22.

NBA Future:
Dashonte Riley
H.S. Detroit Cass Tech
Age: 14
Sport: Basketball. She starts on the varsity basketball team.
Family: Mother, Collette Anderson; twin sister, Daisha Riley, 14
What surprises you the most about high school? "There is way more kids in school. In basketball, the speed of the game is faster."
Favorite subject: Math
Least favorite subject: Science
What are your goals for high school? "To graduate and to continue to learn."

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