Lakers vs. Warriors: L.A. beats down the Warriors

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Lakers 130, Warriors 97 (final)

This really never was a game.

The Lakers built a 14-point lead in the first quarter, increased it to 17 in the second, to 25 in the third and then rolled from there in scoring a season high in points.

All five Lakers’ starters scored in double figures.

Pau Gasol led the way with 22 points and 12 rebounds. Kobe Bryant had 20 points, six rebounds and six assists.

Lakers, 98, Warriors 75 (third quarter)

After his team had built a 21-point lead by sharing the basketball, by getting steals and by getting out on the fast break, Lakers Coach Phil Jackson called a timeout with 3:31 left in the third.

Whatever Jackson drew up on his chalkboard seemed to work.

The Lakers went right back to work on defense and scored on their next two possessions, building a 93-68 lead.

The only thing the Lakers were upset about was when Pau Gasol was called for a technical foul with 1:52 left in the third for hanging on the rim after a fast-break dunk.

It was an interesting sight to look onto the court and see two former Lakers playing for the Golden State Warriors. And it was particularly interesting to see the two former Lakers talking to Lakers assistant coach Brian Shaw during a timeout.

The two Warriors were Ronny Turiaf and Vladimir Radmanovic. Neither were very effective during the game.

Lakers 60, Warriors 50 (halftime) The Lakers went to work in the second quarter, building a 17-point lead, scoring with ease.

Then the Lakers seemed to go to sleep and allowed the Warriors to close that gap to 10 points at halftime.

Stephen Curry had 10 of his 12 points in the second quarter.

The Lakers went to a big frontcourt of seven-footers Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum along with 6-10 Lamar Odom for the final 1:05 of the second quarter.

Lakers, 36, Warriors 22 (first quarter) With help from their bench, the Lakers jumped on the Warriors in the first quarter.

Reserves Lamar Odom and Shannon Brown both had five points in the first.

That helped the Lakers open a 14-point lead.

Pau Gasol had 12 points, having his way inside, missing just one of his six shots.

Ron Artest took up the offensive slack for Kobe Bryant by scoring seven points.

It was not a good first quarter for Bryant, who picked up two fouls in the first, forcing him to the bench.

He also was given a technical foul for arguing after he was called for an offensive foul.

Bryant didn’t take a shot in the first. But he did have two assists.

Pregame
Even though Golden State Warriors Coach Don Nelson missed the third of what is expected to be five games while he recovers from pneumonia, the Lakers know the Warriors still will push the pace.

In the first two games the Warriors played without Nelson, they scored 111 points in a victory and 104 points during a loss.

Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said before Saturday night’s game against the Warriors that his team has to be ready to play transition defense.

When Jackson was asked how to defend a Warriors team that likes to run, he was honest.

‘Get your butt back on defense,’ Jackson said.

-- Broderick Turner