Lakers Hold On To Defeat Bucks

Kobe for a jumpshot

The Lakers are beginning to look more like a playoff team, slowly but steadily, winning the home games they’re supposed to win, against the teams they’re supposed to beat, with just enough drama to approach, but not pass, the theatrics that have accompanied so many home losses this season.

Retaining half of their 10-point fourth-quarter lead, the Lakers defeated the Milwaukee Bucks, their seventh-place counterparts from the Eastern Conference, 101-96, Friday at Staples Center.

Kobe Bryant had 43 points on 12-for-26 shooting, and Kwame Brown followed up his best effort of the season with 16 points and nine rebounds.

The Lakers hadn’t won three consecutive games since the middle of January, but that’s now accomplished, and they ran their home record to 19-13, with eight of their final 11 to be played at Staples Center. They also moved 1 1/2 games ahead of Sacramento for seventh in the West.

Staples Center has been an adventure for the Lakers this season, with confounding losses to luckless Atlanta and Boston, and late-minute losses to Chicago, New Jersey, Houston and Memphis (twice).

One home victory does not a trend make, however, in Phil Jackson’s world.

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