Kobe Leads The Way As Lakers Rock Raptors 117-108

Posted by Jeff Sack under Main

Kobe Bryant scored a game high 34 points, and the Los Angeles Lakers shot a scalding 53.6% (45-84) for the game as they held off the Toronto Raptors 117-108 Tuesday night at the Staples Center. the win puts? Los Angeles in first place over all in the Western Conference playoff race a half game over defending NBA Champs the San Antonio Spurs.

The first quarter was well played on both ends and Toronto would come out of the period with a slim 25-22 lead. The Raptors would hold the lead in the second quarter until Jordan Farmar hit a 25 foot trey putting L.A. ahead 37-35 with 6:27 left in the period. The Lakers held the lead the rest of the quarter and were up 58-52 as the game reached the half. Los Angeles?never ran too far away in the third quarter but they held the lead throughout the period, and had a 83-77 advantage at the end of the quarter. Farmar hit the first basket of the final period, and Toronto would never get closer than 7 points behind for the rest of the game.

Bryant had a superb game, along with his 34 points, he had 7 assists, 7 rebounds, 4 steals, 1 block in the L.A. victory. Lamar Odom scored 20 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, Derek Fisher scored 18 points, 5 assists, 2 steals, 1 block. Pau Gasol scored 12 points, 7 boards, 5 assists, 1 block, Jordan Farmar scored 10 points coming off the bench, 5 assists, 1 rebound.

T.J. Ford may have had his best game since getting injured in Atlanta earlier this season. Ford came off the bench for Toronto and scored a game high 28 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal. Anthony Parker scored 21 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, Rasho Nesterovic scored 18 points, 8 boards, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block. Andrea Bargnani scored 15 points, 6 assists, 6 rebounds, 1 steal. Los Angeles now sits at 45-19, Toronto 34-29.

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