Lakers tame Bobcats

Kobe Bryant’s fast start afforded him the luxury of a late rest as the Los Angeles Lakers made light work of the Charlotte Bobcats with a 106-73 blowout home win on Tuesday.

The NBA’s leading scorer notched 18 points in the first quarter and recorded the game-high 24 by halftime, where the Lakers built a substantial lead against the league’s worst team, allowing Bryant to sit out the fourth quarter. An entire quarter on the bench was a rare but welcome treat for the 16-year veteran, who entered the night second in the league in minutes per game. His absence also allowed the Lakers bench to shine and contribute 48 points on the night. “Our bench was terrific, it was great to see,” Lakers coach Mike Brown said. “We moved the ball and guys knocked down shots. It was a fun night to watch guys execute.”

The Lakers were able to break the 100-point mark for the second consecutive game after going 13 without doing so.

Results: Boston 93 bt Cleveland 90, Indiana 106 bt New Jersey 99, Atlanta 100 bt Toronto 77, NY Knicks 113 bt Detroit 86, Memphis 100 bt Denver 97 (Ot), Golden State 93 bt Sacramento 90, LA Lakers 106 bt Charlotte 73