Lakers score first win at Detroit in seven years

DETROIT (Reuters) – The Los Angeles Lakers won in Detroit for the first time in seven years on Thursday, Kobe Bryant scoring 30 points in a 92-77 victory over the injury-hit Pistons.

Los Angeles bagged the final 20 points of the third quarter to pull away from the Pistons, who were without injured trio Allen Iverson, Richard Hamilton and Rasheed Wallace.

The Lakers also snapped a nine-game losing streak at Detroit's home court, including three losses in the 2004 NBA Finals. It was their first win at The Palace since January 8, 2002.

Lakers coach Phil Jackson, however, was not overly impressed by his team's performance given the extent of Detroit's injuries.

"They were shorthanded," Jackson told reporters. "We should've won."

The Lakers trailed 42-39 at the half before the huge third quarter 20-0 run put the game away.

"When the playoffs come around, I don't think anybody wants to play this team," Bryant said of the Pistons. "It is never easy for us in this building.

"It feels good to finally walk out of here with a win."

Bryant also had eight rebounds and seven assists, while Derek Fisher chipped in with 15 points.

Pau Gasol added 12 points and 11 rebounds and Lamar Odom had 12 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.

Will Bynum led the Pistons with 25 points and 11 assists and Antonio McDyess added 14 points and 12 rebounds.

Los Angeles (57-14) won their fourth game in a row while reeling Detroit (34-37) lost their third in a row. The Pistons are just three games clear of a playoff spot as the regular season schedule heads into its final three weeks.

"There's not much you can do playing against a team like the Lakers with the lineup we had available," Detroit coach Michael Curry said. "It's a psychological lift knowing they're (the injured players) going to return soon."

(Writing by Roger Lajoie in Toronto; Editing by Peter Rutherford)

mize ti ekip sa te konn fe lakers pase lontan. kobe pap manke pa manyen yo kounyea.

OU WE SA TOU ALPHONSE JUST SUIV POU WE POUL PA FE NOU RONT

"Fi yo konn anpil nan jan de game sa yo..." Ya gen bezwenm? Si fi te "konn anpill nan jan de game sa yo tou, yon fi pata di "jan de game sa yo!" Yon fi ta konin se :bball:BASKETBALL li rele. I'm just saying.

-Br. M'o'
His Glory!