SAN FRANCISCO -- The struggling L.A. Lakers exploded for 37 first quarter points and never looked back as they beat the Cleveland Cavaliers, 113-93, last Sunday at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles.
Center Dwight Howard returned from a torn labrum injury and paced the Lakers with 22 points and 14 rebounds. Kobe Bryant had 23 while Antawn Jamison came off the bench with 16. Point guard Steve Nash joiied the fray with 10 points and nine assists.
The lopsided triumph snapped the Lakers' season-high six-game losing streak. They improved to 16-21, which is still 11th overall in the Western Conference and three places away from a playoffs spot.
"I think our defensive intelligence tonight was pretty good," Lakers ace Kobe Bryant told NBA.com as the Lakers held the Cavaliers to just 41.1 percent from the field (39-of-95) and 19 percent from three-point range (4-of-21).
Star point guard Kyrie Irving and Dion Waters paced the Cavaliers with 15 points each. Irving also had seven assists while Alonzo Gee chipped in 10. Tristan Thompson added 10 more with eight rebounds.
Cleveland dropped to 9-30, 14th place among 15 Eastern Conference teams. (RM)
PHOTO -- Lakers big man Dwight Howard (shown here against the Kings) scored 22 points and grabbed 14 rebounds Sunday night at Staples Center where the Los Angeles Lakers manhandled the Cleveland Cavaliers, 113-93, to snap a six-game losing skid.
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