John Wall leads Wizards to easy 101 88 win over Kobe, Lakers

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LOS ANGELES—John Wall had 22 points and 13 assists, and Marcin Gortat added 16 points and 10 rebounds in the Washington Wizards’ 101-88 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night.

Kobe Bryant scored 17 points in 23 minutes for the Lakers, who have lost seven of eight to fall to 15-58. Bryant has four home games remaining in his 20-year NBA career, and the Staples Center crowd serenaded him with cheers and chants while the Lakers listlessly lost again.

Otto Porter Jr. scored 14 points in the Wizards’ balanced performance during the opener of a four-game West Coast swing with their playoff hopes in peril. Washington has won six of eight overall, but dropped two straight home games before the trip.

D’Angelo Russell scored 22 points for the Lakers despite leaving Friday’s game early with a sprained ankle. Second-leading scorer Jordan Clarkson had only two points in 30 minutes, and the Lakers punctuated an abysmal team shooting game by missing 19 of 20 3-pointers before Russell’s last-minute 3.

Bryant hit two 3-pointers in the first 2 minutes, but cooled off after his third 3 later in the first quarter. He scored 15 points in the first half, but checked out of the game for good with 4:25 left in the third quarter, likely resting his legs for Monday’s game at Utah.

J.J. Hickson scored all 14 of his points in the second half for the Wizards, who jumped out to a 24-point lead before the Lakers finally made a fourth-quarter rally.

The Wizards hit the road after a disheartening double-overtime loss to lowly Minnesota, damaging their playoff chances.

Bradley Beal, who missed potential game-winning 3-pointers at the end of regulation and the first overtime, went scoreless in the first three quarters after he was slow getting up after taking a tumble to the court late in the first half. He finished with four points.

Washington trailed by 12 points early, but took the lead with 17 first-half points from Wall.

Tip-Ins

Wizards: F Markieff Morris sat out after straining his right calf against Minnesota. Nene took his place in the starting lineup and had 10 points. … Gilbert Arenas watched the game from courtside. The longtime Wizards guard grew up in the San Fernando Valley.

Lakers: F Larry Nance Jr. had nine points. He will sit out Monday’s game at Utah because the rookie doesn’t play back-to-backs to rest his sore right knee. … Ryan Kelly went scoreless in 17 minutes after sitting out the past three games.