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Jackson, Bobcats Take Down Lakers, 98-83
Charlotte, NC (Sports Network) - Stephen Jackson scored 21 points, and the hot-shooting Bobcats trounced the Lakers, 98-83, dealing Los Angeles its second straight defeat.
Gerald Wallace added 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Bobcats, who had lost five of their previous six games. Charlotte has been one of the few teams to have recent success against the Lakers, winning seven of its last 10 encounters with the defending champions.
Tyrus Thomas contributed 14 points and nine boards for Charlotte, which shot a very efficient 51.4 percent from the field. In addition, the team went 6-of-12 from three-point range in the win.
Conversely, the Lakers, who were led by Kobe Bryant's 26 points, shot just 36.3 percent in their second loss in as many nights. Andrew Bynum added 14 points and 10 boards, but Los Angeles will have just one more opportunity to get a win on its three-game road trip -- Sunday in an NBA Finals rematch at Orlando.
Jordan Farmer posted 12 points, while Pau Gasol had 11 with 13 rebounds, as the Lakers shot just 3-of-18 from long distance in defeat. It was the lowest point total for Los Angeles since scoring 79 in a loss to Denver on November 13.
Bynum recorded eight points and seven boards in the first quarter, and Los Angeles grabbed a 26-23 lead after 12 minutes, but Charlotte quickly erased its deficit and moved in front for good.
The Bobcats scored the first five points of the second quarter to move in front, and Thomas capped a 6-0 burst a short time later for a 34-29 edge.
Charlotte was able to increase its lead to six, 49-43, at halftime. The hosts then opened the second half on a 10-0 burst, as Wallace drilled a pair of threes for a commanding 59-43 advantage.
The Lakers never recovered and trailed, 75-63, heading to the fourth. The Bobcats’ lead reached as high as 20 in the final quarter, as they coasted to the victory.
The teams split the season series, 1-1...Raymond Felton finished with 13 points for the Bobcats, who got 12 points from D.J. Augustin...Tyson Chandler, who missed the last seven games with a foot injury, scored six points and grabbed four rebounds in 15 minutes. Nazr Mohammed (back) did not play...Each team had 41 rebounds and 20 turnovers.
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