Back in the Running

Kobe
LA Times: Jerry Buss predicted it, almost insisted it would happen, pegging the Los Angeles Lakers as a playoff team when few others would dare think such a thing back in October.

It isn’t official yet, and the Laker owner can’t quite say, “I told you so,” but the Lakers made another move toward the postseason, beating the Golden State Warriors, 111-100, Tuesday night at Staples Center.

Knocking off a weaker opponent was a problem area not that long ago, but the Lakers took it to the sagging Warriors as if their playoff lives depended on it.

Kobe Bryant had 31 points, Kwame Brown had 15 points and a season-high 15 rebounds, and Lamar Odom completed his first triple-double as a Laker — 15 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists.

An added bonus took place a little further up north, where the Sacramento Kings managed to lose a 17-point lead in a 123-110 home loss to the Phoenix Suns, allowing the Lakers to take a one-game lead for seventh place in the Western Conference. The Lakers have three games left and are three games ahead of the ninth-place Utah Jazz, which has five left to play.

“I can feel it,” Odom said. “You can feel the energy in the crowd, the energy everywhere. Everyone’s getting excited. It’s a beautiful thing to be part of.”

Looking for coverage of the Lakers’ push into the playoffs? Look no further than our CL.com Forums!