• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Bryant, Fisher help Lakers trounce Bucks

Dec 8, 2008 - 6:07 AM By John Reger PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- All five starters scored in double figures as the Los Angeles Lakers cruised to their third consecutive victory, 105-92, over the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday.

Kobe Bryant led the way with 20 points and Derek Fisher added 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting for the Lakers, who earned their second wire-to-wire victory in as many games. They also led the entire game at Washington on Friday.

It was the fifth time this season Los Angeles has led the entire game, but it was far from one of its best offensive performances, especially in the first half.

"Tonight was ugly, especially for the second unit," Lakers forward Lamar Odom said. "We have to watch the film on this and see what we need to clean up."

The Lakers struggled in the first half, shooting 15-of-41, but fortunately the Bucks were playing even worse. Milwaukee scored 31 points before the break, tying its lowest total for a half this season.

"We weren't ready to play at all," Milwaukee coach Scott Skiles said. "We came out flat. I thought we had low energy from the beginning."

The closest the Bucks got to the Lakers was 6-5 early in the first quarter, but they never threatened again. Los Angeles had an eight-point lead after the first quarter and 12-point margin by halftime.

It was a sloppy game with both teams plagued not only by poor shooting, but turnovers. The Lakers had 25 turnovers and Milwaukee finished with 18.

Los Angeles began the second half with a 14-4 run and pushed its lead to as much as 64-39 after Fisher hit a pair of free throws with 6:15 left in the frame before many of the starters were pulled.

"We have to get the job done defensively if we are going to be an elite team," Bryant said. "Defensively we did a much better job tonight. I thought it was a step in the right direction."

Milwaukee lost starter Malik Allen, when he went down awkwardly in a collision with Vladimir Radmanovic at 6:48 in the first quarter. He left the game with a rib injury and did not return.