Lakers Begin Seven-Game Trip With a Victory Over Chicago

The Lakers rallied in the fourth quarter to enjoy a 117-109 victory over the Chicago Bulls at the United Center on Saturday, a good start to L.A.’s seven-game trip. During the fourth quarter Lakers’ forward Josh Powell (21) and guard Kobe Bryant (24) managed to trap Bulls’ forward John Salmons on the baseline. Saturday was the reverse of the Lakers’ recent trend, with L.A. being the attackers, overturning a six-point deficit through three quarters by outscoring the Bulls, 36-22, in the final 12 minutes.

The Lakers’ second unit sparked a 21-6 run kicking off the fourth quarter, with Jordan Farmar breaking free from a monthlong slump with 13 points. Lakers’ Coach Phil Jackson sent out Lamar Odom with the reserves instead of Pau Gasol to start the fourth quarter, and he seemlessly blended with Farmar, Luke Walton, Sasha Vujacic and Josh Powell. A proud Jackson told the L.A. Times, “It was good to see that from them. The confidence is important, that they recognize they have to help each other out there. That’s the first thing and secondly, that they start aggresive.” The Lakers (55-14) have six more away games ahead of them and remain within a game of Cleveland (56-13) for the league’s best record.

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