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Lakers rally for yet another win over in-state rivals

Feb 19, 2009 - 7:33 AM OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Lakers once again proved that they are the undisputed kings of California.

Trevor Ariza scored 10 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter as the Lakers rallied for a 129-121 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday.

All-Star game co-MVP Kobe Bryant poured in 30 points and added nine assists for Los Angeles, which improved to 8-1 against teams from California this season with its only loss to an in-state rival coming during a 113-101 setback to the Sacramento Kings on December 9.

"We kept our poise tonight," Bryant said. "We're extremely focused and we understand the value of each game. This being a back-to-back, Golden State made us earn it. We still buckled down and got the win. That's a testament to our concentration."

Stephen Jackson and Corey Maggette scored 24 points apiece while Anthony Randolph contributed 14 and 12 rebounds for Golden State, which led for a majority of the game before being outscored 39-29 in the fourth quarter as the Lakers stormed back to earn their 10th win in 11 games.

"Well we couldn't play much better, for most of the game, than we did," Warriors coach Don Nelson said. "I thought we played an outstanding game at both ends of the floor. We had some missed shots and untimely turnovers at the wrong time when you had to be strong and at your best.

"Maybe if we made a few more plays down the stretch, few more shots, but other than that, the game was what it was and we played pretty well against what I think is the best team in the league."

Trailing by two entering the final session, Ariza pulled Los Angeles within 109-108 by drilling a 3-pointer with 4:18 remaining in the game.

After a missed layup by Monta Ellis on the ensuing possession, the 23-year-old forward drained another three, putting the Lakers on top by two points.

"The ball came to me, and I had plenty of time, so it was just like playing at practice," Ariza said. "If they are going to leave me, I am going to keep shooting it. I have matured, my teammates have helped me gain plenty of confidence, and in order for us to win we all have to have confidence in each other."

The Warriors would tie the score at 111-111, but Lamar Odom scored five straight points sandwiched around a free throw by Jamal Crawford, and his three-point play gave Los Angeles an insurmountable 116-112 advantage.

"We had a couple turnovers at the end, they made shots, they killed us on the offensive boards and they were the better team tonight," Ellis said. "They made shots, we didn't and they won the game."

The Lakers kept the score close early on, but a 7-2 run over the final two minutes of the first half by the Warriors gave them a 68-62 lead entering the locker rooms.

Golden State continued the surge out of the break, forging an 84-72 advantage on Jackson's dunk with 7:20 left to play in the third quarter.

But Los Angeles closed the session with a 20-10 run and completed the comeback in the fourth, depriving the Warriors of their first four-game win streak of the campaign.