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Pau Gasol pleads to the referee - Source: Reuters -
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Pau Gasol flourished in the role of starting center to lead the
Los Angeles Lakers to their sixth straight win, a 99-92 triumph
over the Washington Wizards on Monday.
Gasol scored 28 points and had 12 rebounds after switching from
his normal forward role following the loss of Andrew Bynum, who
suffered an injury to his left Achilles' tendon on
Saturday.
"We lose a little size and gain a little speed," Gasol told
reporters of playing without Bynum. "He's a big body who has really
been effective for us in rebounding and shot-blocking."
The Lakers, however, have grown accustomed to playing without
Bynum, who has missed more than 70 games in the previous two season
due to injury.
Bynum will miss a week and then be re-evaluated shifting
responsibility to Gasol and Lamar Odom, who moved into the starting
lineup and contributed 13 rebounds, six assists, four steals and
three blocks.
Kobe Bryant scored 20 of his 24 points in the second quarter as
Los Angeles (52-18) built a 26-point halftime lead and held off the
struggling Wizards despite a disappointing finish.
With the victory, the Lakers were able to extend their lead to
five games over the Denver Nuggets in the Western
Conference.
Lakers coach Phil Jackson, however, was more concerned with his
team's inconsistency.
"The way we're playing we can't seem to sustain an effort for 48
minutes," Jackson said. "We didn't play with the intensity you have
to play with."
For Washington (21-47) it was an 11th straight loss, two shy of a
franchise record.
Reserve guard Nick Young had a season-high 22 points as the
Wizards remain winless since Feb 28.
