SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, (Reuters) – The Los Angeles Lakers continued to thrive in the absence of All-Star Kobe Bryant, beating the Utah Jazz 96-81 on Wednesday.
Lamar Odom had 25 points and 11 rebounds while Pau Gasol put up 22 points and 19 boards as the Lakers won their third straight without Bryant since he was sidelined with an ankle injury.
Also playing their second in a row without starting centre Andrew Bynum, out with a hip injury, the NBA champions displayed the depth in their roster by halting a nine-game winning streak for the red-hot Jazz.
“This just shows the depth of the team no matter who is hurt,” Gasol told reporters after his second straight 19-rebound effort. “The last three games have been pretty outstanding. We have guys working hard and we’re having fun.”
Los Angeles (41-13) ended the first quarter on a 12-0 run to build a 13-point lead and never looked back.
Andrei Kirilenko scored 17 points to lead Utah (32-19) which pulled within 12 points midway through the fourth before Lakers guard Jordan Farmar drained a three-pointer to push the lead back to 15 and put the game away.
The Jazz entered the game as favourites after winning 13 of their last 14, but appeared weary having played the Los Angeles Clippers the night before.
Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer both had 11 points and added 10 assists and 10 boards respectively.
Bryant remains in doubt for Sunday’s All-Star Game.
“I want (Kobe) to do what’s right for him,” said Lakers coach Phil Jackson. “If he’s 100 percent then play, if not he shouldn’t. He could’ve (played today) but why? He has a period of almost a week to rest.”
Gasol, who has also been named for the All-Star Game, added five blocks and four assists to his totals. Odom carried a sore foot into the game but appeared unaffected by it and added three steals.
Farmar also chipped in with 18 off the bench for Los Angeles.