NBA: Lakers Squeak By Wizards At Home

The quarter point is one of many benchmarks in the NBA season, and at 15-6 after 21 games, the Los Angeles Lakers are considered one of the elite teams in the league.

I’m still waiting for them to play like it.

After blowing a 19-point lead in the 3rd quarter, the Lakers pulled away from the Washington Wizards(6-15) in the fourth, defeating them for the 8th straight time, 115-108 at the Staple Center.

Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 32 points, Lamar Odom added 24 points/7 rebounds. Pau Gasol – recently dogged by fatigue and hamstring issues – finished with 21 points, 14 rebounds, 8 assists and 5 blocks.

The Lakers continue to struggle on the defensive side of the ball, surrendering 75 points to the Wizards guard trio of Nick Young(30), Gilbert Arenas(23) and sensational rookie John Wall – who finished with 22 points and 14 assists.

Washington trailed 110-106 with 1:20 left, but costly turnovers and too much Kobe Bryant foiled their upset bid.

A video of JaVale McGee dunking on the Lakers’ heads after the jump…