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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The surging Los Angeles Lakers welcomed the return of seven-foot centre Andrew Bynum by routing the injury-riddled Washington Wizards 103-89 Tuesday.
Kobe Bryant scored 24 points to lead the Lakers, who outscored Washington 35-22 in the second quarter to take a 57-46 lead at halftime and never looked back.
Bryant scored 16 points in the third quarter as the Lakers stretched their lead to 92-70 with a period to play, sending the Verizon Center crowd heading for the exits.
Bynum saw his first action of the year following right knee surgery in July, coming off the bench to score seven points with four rebounds and two blocks.
Los Angeles has struggled much of the year under the basket with the absence of Bynum, a key component in the Lakers' championship runs the last two years.
The Lakers (18-7) have won five of their last six and are within striking distance of of the West-leading San Antonio Spurs (20-3) and Dallas Mavericks (19-5).
Swingman Nick Young, who scored 30 points in a 115-108 loss to the Lakers last week at the Staples Center, had 21 to pace the Wizards (6-17) but he had little help.
Two of the Wizards' top scorers, rookie point guard John Wall and veteran power forward Andray Blatche, did not play due to nagging injuries.
(Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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Kobe Bryant scored 24 points to lead the Lakers, who outscored Washington 35-22 in the second quarter to take a 57-46 lead at halftime and never looked back.
Bryant scored 16 points in the third quarter as the Lakers stretched their lead to 92-70 with a period to play, sending the Verizon Center crowd heading for the exits.
Bynum saw his first action of the year following right knee surgery in July, coming off the bench to score seven points with four rebounds and two blocks.
Los Angeles has struggled much of the year under the basket with the absence of Bynum, a key component in the Lakers' championship runs the last two years.
The Lakers (18-7) have won five of their last six and are within striking distance of of the West-leading San Antonio Spurs (20-3) and Dallas Mavericks (19-5).
Swingman Nick Young, who scored 30 points in a 115-108 loss to the Lakers last week at the Staples Center, had 21 to pace the Wizards (6-17) but he had little help.
Two of the Wizards' top scorers, rookie point guard John Wall and veteran power forward Andray Blatche, did not play due to nagging injuries.
(Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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