Lakers continue winning ways

Kobe Bryant didn’t play but it didn’t matter on Friday night as the Atlanta Hawks were the opposition. The result was a 106-95 win. The Lakers are now 13-6 heading into Sunday’s showdown with San Antonio at the Staples Center.

Bryant sat out with a sprained ankle, resting for the game with the Spurs. But lo and behold, Luke Walton stepped up with a career-high 25 points against Atlanta. Maurice Evans started in place of Bryant and scored 22, including a spectacular reverse layup while being fouled in the fourth quarter that made the highlight reels.

And Bryant’s absence didn’t keep away the celebrities. Lindsay Lohan brought the party to the Staples Center, perhaps thinking there was an AA meeting there.

Lindsay Lohan

Bryant hurt the ankle in Monday’s win over the Pacers but played in Wednesday’s loss to the Hornets. The woeful Hawks provided an opportunity to steal a night off for Kobe.

Sunday’s game sets up as a key test for Los Angeles. The Lakers have been feasting on home cooking of late. The Spurs game ends a stretch of 13 out of 14 games at the Staples Center (one was “at” the Clippers). Seven of the games were against Eastern Conference teams.

Now, the Lakers will follow up the game with San Antonio with a quick, two-game, back-to-back trip to Houston and Dallas. Several people have questioned just how good Los Angeles is and whether the Lakers are truly contenders. These next three games should give a hint.

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