ESPN: Kobe Bryant scored 23 points, seven of his teammates also scored in double digits, and the Los Angeles Lakers beat Seattle 130-105 on Friday night, sending the SuperSonics to their 10th straight loss and completing a sweep of the four-game season series.
The Western Conference-leading Lakers returned to Staples Center from an arduous 2-2 road trip that concluded with victories over Dallas and Utah — who were a combined 58-8 at home before they got there. They never trailed in their sixth straight win over the Sonics, whose 16-53 record is the second-worst in the NBA.
Lakers center Pau Gasol, who sprained his left ankle during the opening game of the trip, missed his fourth straight contest. Friday’s signing of 33-year-old forward Ira Newble to a 10-day contract enabled coach Phil Jackson to dress 11 players and fortify a roster further handcuffed by lengthy injuries to Andrew Bynum, Trevor Ariza and Chris Mihm.
Luke Walton scored all of his 17 points in the fourth quarter while Bryant, Lamar Odom and Derek Fisher remained on the bench. All the Lakers’ starters scored in double digits, and the team is 14-1 when that happens.
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