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Gasol, Bryant carry Lakers to eighth win in a row

Feb 25, 2008 - 5:50 AM By Paul Lowenberg PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

SEATTLE (Ticker) - All-Star Kobe Bryant didn't have to stick around in this one.

Pau Gasol scored 22 points and Bryant added 21 and 10 assists as the red-hot Los Angeles Lakers rolled to an easy 111-91 victory over the undermanned Seattle Supersonics on Sunday night.

Lamar Odom registered his fifth straight double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds as the Lakers pushed their winning streak to eight games - longest since an 11-game stretch in 2004.

"We're starting to understand that it doesn't matter whether we play at home or on the road, the execution remains the same," Bryant said. "I think we've been doing a pretty good job of executing, building up some big leads and playing from there."

It was also the Lakers' seventh straight win on the road - a feat they haven't accomplished since 2000.

The 6-6 Bryant was ejected in the third quarter after getting hit with two consecutive technicals by referee Brian Forte with four minutes for arguing about a foul not being called on an offensive rebound attempt.

"Somebody grabbed my arm and (Forte) missed the call," Bryant said. "Next thing I know ,we go down the floor and he gives me a tech."

The Sonics were playing without Chris Wilcox (flu), Damien Wilkins (wrist) and newcomer Donyell Marshall (flu).

"We missed guys, there's no question about that," Seattle coach P.J. Carlesimo said. "We just weren't able to compete at the level they were playing at. They had us on our heels initially, and we were never able to respond."

"They had a couple of players that were sick and that had something to do with it," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "I thought we did carry the energy out there on the floor. I thought we were playing harder than they were."

The duo of Bryant and Gasol combined 21 first-quarter points in helping the Lakers shoot a blistering 58 percent (14-for-24) from the field to forge a 34-18 advantage.

"(Gasol) makes a huge difference," Carlesimo said. "I mean they are playing as well as anyone in the league right now."

Things didn't get any better for the lowly Sonics in the second as Los Angeles continued to add to its advantage to create a 62-43 lead at intermission.

Seldom-used guard Mikael Gelebale led the way with 21 points and eight rebounds off the bench for Seattle, which received just 15 from rookie Kevin Durant.