Kobe Bryant earns rest after LA Lakers destroy Bobcats

LOS ANGELES - Reuters

Kobe Bryant (C) does not have to sweat a lot as his Los Angeles Lakers ease past the Charlotte Bobcats during an NBA game. AP photo

Kobe Bryant’s fast start afforded him the luxury of a late rest as the Los Angeles Lakers made light work of the free-falling 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. 

Welcome treat

An entire quarter on the bench was a rare but welcome treat for the 16th 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 told reporters. “We moved the ball and guys knocked down shots. It was a fun night to watch guys execute.” Los Angeles (13-9) set the early tone with a 10-0 run in the first quarter, where they grabbed a 12-point lead before going up by 24 at halftime. 

The defeat was the latest reverse for the tumbling Bobcats (3-19), who lost their ninth straight game, the most since they dropped a franchise worst 13 in a row in 2006. 
Gerald Henderson led all Charlotte scorers with 14 points on a night his team shot just 34 percent from the field. 

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

Andrew Bynum chipped in 20 points and 11 rebounds on the day he learned that he will be named to his first NBA All-Star Game when the voting is announced later this week. 

“I’ve always wanted to be an All Star,” Bynum said. “It’s great to see it come to fruition.” 

Also on Tuesday, Memphis’ O.J. Mayo scored 18 points, including a go-ahead 3-pointer with 35 seconds left in overtime, as the Grizzlies snapped a four-game losing streak with a 100-97 victory over the Denver Nuggets. 

Go-ahead basket 

Mayo’s basket gave Memphis a 98-97 lead, and two free throws by Mike Conley with 8 seconds left completed the scoring. Rudy Fernandez’s potential tying 3-point attempt in the closing seconds for Denver bounced off the rim, sending the Nuggets to a defeat. 
Rudy Gay and Marc Gasol both overcame poor shooting nights to lead Memphis with 20 points apiece, each also grabbing 13 boards as the Grizzlies outrebounded the Nuggets 48-42. 
Al Harrington led Denver with 23 points, 21 after halftime, and 10 rebounds.