Final
Lakers try to stay in postseason hunt, pay a visit to Blazers
Apr 10, 2013 - 2:08 PM (Sports Network) - The Los Angeles Lakers clawed back into the eighth playoff spot in the Western Conference, and now will try to hold on to it Wednesday night when they visit the Portland Trail Blazers.The Lakers topped the New Orleans Hornets 104-96 on Tuesday night at the Staples Center. The victory leaped them over the Utah Jazz into that final postseason spot out west.
Los Angeles leads the Jazz by just a half game. The Lakers have four games left, but Wednesday's is the final road contest of the season. They close at home against the Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets.
On Tuesday, the Lakers came from behind to get the victory as Metta World Peace returned to the lineup. World Peace was initially expected to be sidelined for the remainder of the regular season after undergoing a procedure to repair a torn lateral meniscus on March 28.
World Peace came off the bench Tuesday night and scored four points in 15 minutes.
"He'll keep getting back into it little by little," head coach Mike D'Antoni said World Peace. "Whatever he can give us helps, and the minutes he gave us were good minutes."
Kobe Bryant had 23 points in the fourth quarter and 33 for the game to lead the comeback.
"They keyed in on my penetration, but I know I could range over the defense and get the shot," Bryant said. "So, with games like this, when the jumper is falling, you have fourth quarters like I had."
Pau Gasol had 22 points and 11 rebounds and Dwight Howard scored 19 points while playing most of the night in foul trouble.
The Blazers have lost eight in a row thanks to a 96-91 home loss Sunday to the Dallas Mavericks. Portland only managed 32 points in the first half and trailed by 24 points at the half.
Nicolas Batum didn't play on Sunday and called himself a game-time decision for Wednesday, although head coach Terry Stotts labeled him as doubtful. Wesley Matthews won't play with an ankle issue and J.J. Hickson is questionable with a back problem.
Will Barton is expected to start in Matthews' absence as Portland may start four rookies Wednesday. Barton was sensational on Sunday, scoring 22 points and grabbing 13 rebounds in 32 minutes.
"He was terrific. He did a little bit of everything and I can't say enough about what he did," said Stotts.
The Lakers took two of three this season against Portland, although both victories came in L.A. The Lakers have dropped three straight in Rose City.
- LOS ANGELES: 113
PORTLAND: 106
Final
Apr 11 12:29 AM - 214
rootsRUWTbot Added 26 roots (Close Finish, Individual Performance)
Lakers 106, Trail Blazers 101 4th - 3:23Apr 11 12:16 AM - 188
rootsRUWTbot Took away 17 roots (Close Finish, Individual Performance)
Lakers 106, Trail Blazers 100 4th - 4:10Apr 11 12:12 AM - 205
rootsRUWTbot Took away 23 roots (Close Finish, Individual Performance)
Lakers 103, Trail Blazers 100 4th - 4:30Apr 11 12:11 AM - 228
rootsRUWTbot Added 10 roots (Close Finish, Individual Performance)
Lakers 102, Trail Blazers 100 4th - 4:30Apr 11 12:09 AM - 218
rootsRUWTbot Added 9 roots (Close Finish, Individual Performance)
Lakers 98, Trail Blazers 100 4th - 5:46Apr 11 12:07 AM - 209
rootsRUWTbot Added 10 roots (Close Finish, Individual Performance)
Lakers 96, Trail Blazers 98 4th - 6:33Apr 11 12:04 AM - 199
rootsRUWTbot Added 28 roots (Close Finish, Individual Performance)
Lakers 94, Trail Blazers 96 4th - 7:37Apr 11 12:03 AM - 171
rootsRUWTbot Added 5 roots (Close Finish, Individual Performance)
Lakers 92, Trail Blazers 95 4th - 9:29Apr 10 11:56 PM - 161
rootsRUWTbot Added 10 roots (Close Finish, Individual Performance)
Lakers 90, Trail Blazers 93 4th - 9:55Apr 10 11:55 PM - 151
rootsRUWTbot Took away 18 roots (Close Finish, Individual Performance)
Lakers 90, Trail Blazers 93 4th - 10:18Apr 10 11:55 PM - 169
rootsRUWTbot Added 13 roots (Close Finish, Individual Performance)
Lakers 90, Trail Blazers 90 4th - 11:17Apr 10 11:53 PM - LOS ANGELES: 88
PORTLAND: 90
End of 3rd
Apr 10 11:50 PM - 156
rootsRUWTbot Added 19 roots (Individual Performance)
Lakers 88, Trail Blazers 90 3rd - 0:14Apr 10 11:49 PM - 137
rootsRUWTbot Took away 14 roots (Individual Performance)
Lakers 86, Trail Blazers 89 3rd - 0:32Apr 10 11:48 PM - 151
rootsRUWTbot Added 13 roots (Individual Performance)
Lakers 86, Trail Blazers 88 3rd - 0:40Apr 10 11:46 PM - 138
rootsRUWTbot Added 10 roots (Individual Performance)
Lakers 86, Trail Blazers 85 3rd - 1:45Apr 10 11:45 PM - 128
rootsRUWTbot Took away 12 roots (Individual Performance)
Lakers 86, Trail Blazers 83 3rd - 2:01Apr 10 11:44 PM - 140
rootsRUWTbot Added 15 roots (Individual Performance)
Lakers 84, Trail Blazers 83 3rd - 2:37Apr 10 11:44 PM - 125
roots - 116
rootsRUWTbot Added 11 roots (Individual Performance)
Lakers 84, Trail Blazers 78 3rd - 3:55Apr 10 11:39 PM - 105
roots - 100
rootsRUWTbot Added 14 roots (Individual Performance)
Lakers 78, Trail Blazers 78 3rd - 5:58Apr 10 11:36 PM - 86
rootsRUWTbot Added 33 roots (Individual Performance)
Lakers 78, Trail Blazers 73 3rd - 7:27Apr 10 11:33 PM - 53
rootsRUWTbot Took away 35 roots (Individual Performance)
Lakers 78, Trail Blazers 71 3rd - 7:57Apr 10 11:32 PM - 88
roots - 81
roots - LOS ANGELES: 61
PORTLAND: 69
Halftime
Apr 10 11:08 PM - 71
roots - LOS ANGELES: 33
PORTLAND: 41
End of 1st
Apr 10 10:38 PM - LOS ANGELES: 0
PORTLAND: 2
1st Quarter - 11:35
Apr 10 10:13 PM
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