The Los Angeles Lakers have had one of the busiest schedules in the NBA. They played 10 games in the first 15 days of the NBA season, something matched only by the Oklahoma City Thunder. This past week, the Lakers played four games and continued their pattern of the early going: success at home, struggling on the road. The result was a 3-1 week for the Lakers:
Tuesday: Lakers 108, Houston 99
Andrew Bynum scored 21 points and grabbed 22 rebounds for the first 20-20 game of his career, and Kobe Bryant rebounded from a 6-for-28 game to pour in 37 against the Rockets.
Thursday: Portland 107, Lakers 96
The Lakers led at halftime, but it was short-lived. The Trail Blazers pulled away in the second half, sending the Lakers to their 17th loss in their last 21 regular season games at the Rose Garden. Gerald Wallace paced Portland with 31 points in 13-of-19 shooting.
Friday: Lakers 97, Golden State 90
Kobe poured in a season-high 39 points, including 17 in the decisive third quarter when the Lakers took control of the game, turning a four-point halftime deficit into a nine-point lead. Pau Gasol put up a double-double with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and three blocks.
Sunday: Lakers 90, Memphis 82
The Lakers really should have blown out the Grizzlies, especially since they were without Zach Randolph. However, a season-worst 27 turnovers by the Lakers ensured that Memphis stayed close the entire game. Luckily for the Lakers however, the Grizzlies never got to within four points in the final quarter and the Lakers celebrated their sixth straight win.
Bryant averaged 33.0 points for the week, while Bynum pulled down 16.3 rebounds to go with his 16.5 points per game. Gasol had two double-doubles for the week and averaged 15.8 points and 10.3 rebounds for the week.
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