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Bryant leads Lakers past Grizzlies Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Kobe Bryant logged 31 points in three quarters of play, as the Los Angeles Lakers went through the motions and still ended up on the winning side of a 99-89 decision against the Grizzlies. Pau Gasol added 13 points, while Derek Fisher and Sasha Vujacic chipped in 11 points apiece for the Lakers, who were coming off losses to Phoenix and Denver. Lamar Odom hit just one of his eight field goal attempts, but filled the stat sheet with 13 rebounds, eight assists and six blocks for the victors. "I could have shot the ball better, but there's more to the game than just scoring," Odom said. "The strength of our team is the depth, and tonight was a good example, everybody touched the ball...After two losses, a win is a win." Marc Gasol, Pau's younger brother, and O.J. Mayo paced Memphis with 17 points apiece. Gasol also grabbed 14 rebounds in the Grizzlies' eighth straight loss. "We didn't compete on the boards in the second half," Memphis head coach Lionel Hollins said. "Marc [Gasol] met the challenge against his brother. He beat Pau up a little bit. But the Lakers won the game. We would have had to have played a perfect game to win." A 14-0 run backed by five points apiece from Bryant and Gasol aided the Lakers' 32-19 lead after the first quarter. The Grizzlies didn't crumble, but they still trailed 52-47 at the break. LA held a three-point lead early in the third, and an 11-4 mini-run gave the hosts some breathing room. Fisher netted a three during the stretch and Bryant capped it with a reverse slam for a 65-55 lead with 7:18 left in the frame. Holding a 78-67 lead heading to the fourth, the Lakers starters took a seat. The reserves scored the first eight points of the frame to take control. Memphis' 12-2 run midway through the frame made things interesting, but Vujacic nailed a trey around the four-minute mark for a 95-81 lead that was not seriously threatened the rest of the way. Game Notes Memphis Grizzlies center Chris Mihm underwent ankle surgery on Tuesday and his return is not yet known. Mihm, who was acquired from the Los Angeles Lakers at the trade deadline in mid-February, has yet to see action in a Grizzlies uniform...The Lakers, who are 28-4 at home this season, haven't lost three in a row all season. Their last three-game losing streak was January 23-27, 2008...Rudy Gay and Mike Conley contributed 14 and 13 points, respectively, for Memphis, which turned the ball over 19 times in the loss. |