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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.