Kobe Bryant 39, Monta Ellis 38; Lakers Score 46 In 4th Quarter To Bury Warriors

Although the Golden State Warriors gave the Los Angeles Lakers fits for three quarters, in the fourth quarter their defense sunk to unimaginable depths even for Nellie-ball standards. Monta Ellis gave Kobe Bryant all sorts of trouble for three quarters, but Bryant took over the fourth quarter, scoring 17 points in the final six minutes, and nailing two huge threes that effectively ended the game with under two minutes left (he also assisted Ron Artest on another big three pointer). Ellis scored 38 points, but only 7 in the fourth quarter after probably fatiguing out from playing the entire game.

Bryant took advantage of the smaller Ellis on defense late with an offensive explosion that capped the Laker comeback. It was curious that head coach Keith Smart didn’t put the more athletic Dorell Wright on Bryant; that decision haunted the Warriors down the stretch.

The Laker bigs also should be mentioned. Pau Gasol dominated his matchup with David Lee (Gasol had 24 points and 11 rebounds, Lee only 14 points and 7 boards, but he did chip in 6 assists). Andrew Bynum chipped in 11 points, but it was Lamar Odom who charged the comeback with 16 4th quarter points, 20 in all in the period (plus 9 rebounds).

Wright hit five three pointers and scored 27 points and Stephen Curry had 15 points and 10 rebounds in support of Ellis and Lee for the Warriors. Golden State fell to 15-23 on the season.

For more on the game from the perspective of Warriors fans, head over to Golden State of Mind.

Warriors Battle Resurgent Lakers In Oracle

For more coverage on the Warriors, head over to Golden State of Mind.

(Sports Network) - Pacific Division rivals clash in Oakland tonight as the Golden State Warriors open up a five-game homestand hoping to halt an 11-game skid against the two-time defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers.

The Warriors, who haven't beaten the Lakers since March 23, 2008, lost for the first time in three games on Sunday in Staples Center when Eric Gordon scored 25 points and Blake Griffin set a franchise record with his 23rd straight double-double, finishing with 23 points and 12 rebounds, as the Los Angeles Clippers defeated Golden State, 105-91.

Dorell Wright led all scorers with 27 points and Monta Ellis ended with 13 points, six assists and five boards for the Warriors, who had a brief two- game winning streak halted.

"We got guys in foul trouble and never had a chance to get into a rhythm," Golden State head coach Keith Smart said. "Blake (Griffin) plays with a high energy level. The young guy is going to keep getting better. He's electric."

Ellis, the Warriors' leading scorer, will be a game-time decision tonight with flu-like symptoms.

Golden State will also face the LA Clippers, New Jersey, Indiana and Sacramento on its residency.

The Lakers, meanwhile, are coming off one of the most dominating performances in their storied history, a 112-57 drubbing of lowly Cleveland in Staples center on Tuesday.

Pau Gasol led a balanced attack with 13 points and 14 rebounds in that one, as the Lakers used a suffocating defense in the record-setting win. LA set a franchise regular-season record for fewest points scored by an opponent in a game. The previous mark was set on March 12, 2002, when the Lakers held Charlotte to 66 points.

Ron Artest and Andrew Bynum each had 15 points for the Lakers, who's 55-point margin of victory proved to be the third-largest in franchise history. Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom and Shannon Brown chipped in 13 points apiece.

"I don't know what to say. Our size was a dominant factor," Lakers head coach Phil Jackson said. "The Cavs are playing with a lot of their regulars out. They gave us an effort, but we were there to meet them."