Kobe, Lakers Soar Past Washington

Hot shooting leads LA past an uninspired Washington squad
By Mike Buss,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 3, 2008 10:56 PM CST
Kobe, Lakers Soar Past Washington
Los Angeles Lakers center Ronny Turiaf, left, and guard Kobe Bryant, right, defend Washington Wizards guard Nick Young in the second quarter of an NBA game, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008 in Washington. The Lakers defeated the Wizards 103-91. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)   (Associated Press)

Technically, the Lakers were playing a road game at Washington, but it was hard to tell at times, as Kobe Bryant heard lots cheers while pouring in 19 points during the first quarter of his team's 103-91 victory. In all, the superstar finished with 30 while Lamar Odom and Vladimir Radmonovich also made significant contributions against the listless Wizards.

"We didn't get enough passion from everybody," said Washington coach Eddie Jordan, who won a championship with LA long ago. The proof came in the second quarter where all nine Lakers players scored and they shot 74% as a team while the Wizards appeared slow on the defensive end. Washington lost its third straight despite all-star Caron Butler's return. (More NBA stories.)

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