Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Fresh off winning his record-tying fourth All-Star game MVP award on Sunday, Kobe Bryant scored 20 points and dished out five assists to pace the Los Angeles Lakers in a 104-80 rout of the Atlanta Hawks. Shannon Brown added 15 points off the bench for the Lakers, who snapped a three-game skid. Pau Gasol donated 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Joe Johnson finished with 14 points for the Hawks, who have lost four of five. Al Horford chipped in 13 points and six boards for Atlanta, which got 12 points from Jamal Crawford. The Lakers had this game in control from the start. Derek Fisher scored the first six points of the game and Bryant added a jumper for an early 8-0 lead. Los Angeles led by as many as 15 in the first quarter and held a 28-15 margin after 12 minutes.
Horford's free throw midway through the second period got Atlanta within eight, 35-27. The Lakers, though, scored the next 14 points to create some distance. Los Angeles shot 54.5 percent from the field in the first half to grab a 54-33 lead. The Hawks made just 34.2 percent of their shots. The Lakers cruised to victory in the second half.
The Lakers and Hawks have split their home-and-home season series in each of the past three seasons. They can do so for a fourth consecutive season if the Hawks win the March 8 matchup in Atlanta...Los Angeles shot 48.5 percent from the field overall, while Atlanta made 36.6 percent of its shots...Fisher ended with 10 points.
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