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Warriors clobber Lakers 126-99
Baron Davis had 24 points and 13 assists and Golden State sent Los Angeles to its fifth straight defeat with one of the Warriors' biggest wins over the Lakers, 126-99 on Monday night.
Kobe Bryant scored 22 points, finishing three shy of becoming the 15th player to reach 14,000 points. He will almost certainly become the youngest to do it Wednesday at Portland. Bryant would be 26 years and 240 days, while Michael Jordan reached 14,000 at 27 years, 68 days.
Bryant had six rebounds and five assists but also committed six turnovers.
Mickael Pietrus scored 25 points, Troy Murphy added 19 points, nine rebounds and six assists and Jason Richardson had 17 points for the Warriors, who won for the first time in four meetings this season against the Lakers.
Jumaine Jones had 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Lakers, hitting four 3-pointers.
Los Angeles will miss the playoffs for the first time since 1993-94. That's nothing compared to Golden State's drought, which will reach 11 seasons — the longest current streak in the NBA. The last time the Warriors made the playoffs was the last time the Lakers missed.
But with the addition of the pesky Davis, there is reason for optimism again among Warriors fans who, after years of painfully watching other clubs in the postseason, have turned somewhat cynical about the chances of their NBA team.
Since Davis arrived at the trading deadline, the Coliseum has been rocking most nights. Golden State drew 20,054 fans Monday, its fourth sellout of the season.
The previous two games between these teams were decided by a total of six points. And Los Angeles won the first meeting by nine.
The Lakers trailed by as many as 40 points, their largest deficit this season, and lost for the 10th time in 11 games and 18th in 20. It's hard to believe this team played for the NBA title less than a year ago.
Even Bryant, booed each time he touched the ball, seemed uncomfortable. He forced shots at times and never found his rhythm with Richardson guarding him much of the night. He pulled his uniform over his mouth late in the third quarter and yelled an obscenity at the officials, immediately receiving a technical.
The Lakers used a 9-2 run midway through the third to get back within 72-69, with Bryant's driving basket at 5:29 capping the run.
The Lakers played without forward Caron Butler and center Vlade Divac. Butler flew home to Southern California after his 1-year-old daughter, Mia, had an asthma attack.
Butler took the same flight as Divac, suspended earlier in the day for the final two games after he floored Dallas Mavericks center Shawn Bradley with an elbow to the jaw early in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 114-112 loss.
It's unclear whether Butler will be back for Wednesday's season finale against Portland.
The Warriors' biggest win over the Lakers was by 39, 132-93 on Nov. 11, 1966.
Lakers F Lamar Odom will have arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder Tuesday and is expected to be ready before training camp in the fall. Odom, the team's top rebounder and second-leading scorer, has a torn labrum and his recovery time will be about four months. Odom hasn't played since hurting his shoulder March 18 during a loss at Indiana. ... Golden State G Derek Fisher donated $700,000 to Arkansas-Little Rock, and a new auxiliary gym on the campus of his alma mater will carry his last name. Fisher presented a giant check to the school's athletic director, Chris Peterson, before the game. ... Warriors F/C Zarko Cabarkapa did not dress because of a rash. ... The Warriors had a season-high 35 assists.
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