SB Nation DC - Wizards Vs. Lakers: Wizards' Backcourt Shines, But No Happy Ending In Tinseltown As Lakers Hold On For 115-108 Victoryhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48897/dc-fave.png2010-12-08T01:13:42-05:00http://dc.sbnation.com/rss/stream/16269502010-12-08T01:13:42-05:002010-12-08T01:13:42-05:00Wizards Vs. Lakers: Washington Plays Complete Game In Tinsletown, But No Happy Ending In 115-108 Loss To Lakers
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<p>The WIzards entered Los Angeles on a 10-game losing skid, making them one of two teams in the NBA without a road win. Despite all of their efforts, the Wizards could not get the Hollywood ending that they had hoped for, falling to the Lakers 115-108.</p>
<p>Washington's backcourt, led by Nick Young's season-high 30 points and career-high six three-pointers, kept the Wizards around for the entire game. Gilbert Arenas had 23 points and four assists, while John Wall added 22 points and 14 assists for a double-double.</p>
<p>Kobe Bryant scored 32 points to keep the Wizards at bay. Lamar Odom scored 24 points and Pau Gasol was two assists shy of his fifth career triple-double with 21 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists.</p>
<p>It was a game of runs for both teams. The Lakers jumped on the Wizards early, taking 13-point leads into the second quarter and halftime. But the Wizards would erase an 19-point third quarter deficit and cut it to three at the end of the quarter. The Lakers went on another run to reestablish their lead, but the Wizards responded yet again. </p>
<p>Trevor Booker also had a career-high performance. Booker scored 14 points and grabbed four rebounds, taking advantage of JaVale McGee's foul trouble and Andray Blatche's left hip contusion that kept him out of the game. </p>
<p>Young's three-point proficiency allowed the Wizards to shoot 41% from behind the arc, counteracting the Lakers' 58 points in the paint and 45-27 rebounding advantage. </p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-wizards/2010/12/8/1863175/wizards-vs-lakers-nba-game-score-nick-youngAdam Vingan2010-12-08T00:34:14-05:002010-12-08T00:34:14-05:00Wizards Vs. Lakers: Washington Not Going Away, Cut Lakers' Lead To Three After Three
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<p>The Lakers had an 19-point lead in the third quarter and it looked as if the Wizards were done for the night. Nick Young's three-point prowess says otherwise.</p>
<p>Young tied a career high with five threes and helped cut that 19-point lead to just three as the Wizards trail 87-84 with one quarter to go.</p>
<p>Off of the bench, Young has 27 points, while Gilbert Arenas has 19 points and John Wall has 18 points. The Wizards are shooting 53% from long range and are using that to balance out the Lakers' dominance in the paint. The Wizards also lead the Lakers in fast break points by a 17-11 margin.</p>
<p>Kobe Bryant has 23 points for Los Angeles. Lamar Odom has 22 points and Pau Gasol is two assists shy of a triple-double with 16 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-wizards/2010/12/8/1863163/wizards-vs-lakers-nba-game-scoreAdam Vingan2010-12-07T23:46:20-05:002010-12-07T23:46:20-05:00Wizards Vs. Lakers: Nick Young Helps Wizards Make It Interesting, But Lakers Keep Distance, Lead 69-56 At Halftime
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<p>Halfway through the second quarter, it looked like the Wizards would catch up with the Los Angeles Lakers. But the defending champs kept their composure and their lead as they head to the locker room with a 69-56 lead at halftime.</p>
<p>Nick Young has 19 points off of the bench in just over 14 minutes of action on 7-of-9 shooting. John Wall has 15 points and Gilbert Arenas has eight points to round out the top Wizards scorers.</p>
<p>On the other side, Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom are responsible for almost half of Los Angeles' scoring output with a combined 35 points. </p>
<p>The Lakers jumped out to an early 13-point lead after the first quarter and kept it in double digits through the start of the second quarter. But Young's hot hand helped the Wizards cut the lead to four. The Lakers regained their offensive dominance and pushed the lead back to 13 after 24 minutes.</p>
<p>The Lakers and Wizards are both shooting well at 56% and 54% respectively. The Lakers are winning the battle of the boards with a 27-11 advantage. </p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-wizards/2010/12/7/1863057/wizards-vs-lakers-nick-young-score-nba-gameAdam Vingan2010-12-07T23:10:55-05:002010-12-07T23:10:55-05:00Wizards Vs. Lakers: Washington Struggling In L.A., Trails Lakers 36-23
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<p>Despite some flashy moves, the Wizards are struggling to keep pace with the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers. The Wizards trail the Lakers 36-23 after the first quarter.</p>
<p>Gilbert Arenas has eight points to lead the Wizards, playing with a makeshift starting lineup of Arenas, John Wall, JaVale McGee, Al Thornton and Yi Jianlian, who was making his first start as a Wizard. Andray Blatche is out with a left hip contusion sustained against Phoenix Sunday and could return by next Tuesday's rematch with the Lakers in Washington.</p>
<p>The Lakers shot 56 percent from the field, outrebounded the Wizards 17-6 and outscored them 22-4 in the paint. Lamar Odom led all scorers with 13 points.</p>
<p>Nick Young had four points, but none better than his 360-degree layup to score in the lane. Not to be outdone, Odom would throw down a ferocious dunk on the ensuing possession.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-wizards/2010/12/7/1862954/wizards-vs-lakers-score-game-nbaAdam Vingan2010-12-07T21:51:11-05:002010-12-07T21:51:11-05:00Wizards Vs. Lakers: Washington Look To End Road Losing Streak In Hollywood Fashion
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<p>The <a href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Washington Wizards</a> are on a 10-game road losing streak and have yet to win away from Verizon Center. On Tuesday night, the Wizards will look to end that skid in dramatic fashion against the two-time defending champion <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Los Angeles Lakers</a>.</p>
<p>In the first game of a three game road trip, the Wizards lost to the <a href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Phoenix Suns</a> 125-108 behind <span>Steve Nash</span>'s perfect 8-for-8 shooting performance and 20 total points. <span>Andray Blatche</span> led all scorers with 24 points and <span>John Wall</span> had a double-double of 12 points and 12 assists, but could not stop the run-and-gun Suns.</p>
<p>The Lakers are going through a skid of their own, losing four of five. The Lakers snapped a four-game losing streak, their first of that kind since 2007, with a dominating 113-80 victory over the <a href="https://www.sactownroyalty.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Sacramento Kings</a> Friday. Los Angeles has won the last seven meetings with the Wizards and are 16-4 against Washington under head coach <span>Phil Jackson</span>.</p>
<p>As usual, <span>Kobe Bryant</span> leads Los Angeles with 26.5 points per game, while <span>Pau Gasol</span> averages 11.6 rebounds.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2010/12/7/2325964/wizards-vs-lakers-washington-look-to-end-road-losing-streak-inAdam Vingan