Depleted Wizards top Lakers 95-81
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-03-15 11:43

Larry Hughes had 21 points and 12 rebounds, Gilbert Arenas scored 21 points, and the Washington Wizards depleted frontcourt came up big in a 95-81 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night.

Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant looks on after falling to the floor while trying in vain to keep the basketball from going out of bounds, in the fourth quarter of their NBA game against the Washington Wizards, March 14, 2005 in Washington. The Wizards defeated the Lakers 95-81. [Reuters]

After Antawn Jamison lasted less than a quarter because of a sore knee, Brendan Haywood (16 points), Etan Thomas (8) and Jared Jeffries (9) found the pickings surprisingly easy in the lane against a Los Angeles team that didn't have much fight. The trio combined to make 14 of 18 shots as the Wizards outscored the Lakers 44-20 in the paint.

The Wizards built a double-digit lead in the second quarter and pulled away comfortably in the third to sweep the season series from the Lakers for the first time in franchise history. Washington won the teams' other meeting 120-116 in overtime in Los Angeles on Dec. 17.

The victory also snapped a two-game losing streak for the Wizards, who had lost eight of 11 and were in need of some momentum heading into a stretch in which they play seven of their next nine on the road.

The Lakers were totally outhustled for long stretches of the game, giving up easy fast breaks while letting the Wizards chase down the loose balls. The lead was 19 early in the fourth quarter when Los Angeles finally put together a run with a series of 3-pointers to pull within nine, but Arenas responded with back-to-back jumpers, and Haywood brought the crowd to its feet when he plowed through the lane to dunk in a rebound during a fast break.

Caron Butler had 20 points and 11 rebounds, and Kobe Bryant scored 18 points for the Lakers, but Bryant made just six of 22 shots. Chucky Atkins added 15 points, but he started 0-for-7 and made most of his shots after the Wizards had built the big lead.

The Lakers shot 35 percent from the field and fell to 2-1 midway through their six-game road trip.

Jamison, who has a sore knee and back from a season of playing the more physical power forward position, recently had a streak of 386 consecutive games come to an end. He limped badly through the first quarter and sat down for good after playing just eight minutes.

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