Warriors 95, Lakers 87
Monta Ellis scored 26 points and David Lee had 22 points and 17 rebounds to help the Golden State Warriors snap a 12-game losing streak to the Los Angeles Lakers in a 95-87 triumph on Wednesday night.
Stephen Curry added 20 points as the Warriors took advantage of Lakers coach Phil Jackson limiting his starters’ minutes in advance of the playoffs.
In what was an uncharacteristically low-scoring affair between the teams, the Warriors grabbed control by outscoring the Lakers 29-17 in the third quarter, carrying a 72-55 lead into the fourth.
Los Angeles used a 12-3 run to pull within 90-82 on Kobe Bryant’s layup with 2:15 remaining but would get no closer. It marked the Warriors’ first win over their Pacific Division foes since March 23, 2008.
Bryant led the Lakers with 25 points while logging only 32 minutes. Pau Gasol scored 18 points in 27 minutes and Andrew Bynum had 17 rebounds a night after grabbing a career-high 23 boards.
Despite the loss, Los Angeles sits firmly in the No. 2 spot in the Western Conference with four games left.