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Lakers hit a big bump in road on their long trip, losing to Orlando, 89-75

Magic center Dwight Howard scores 22 of his 31 points in the second half, and Lakers score only 34 points in last two quarters en route to their first loss on seven-game 'Grammy trip,' which they'd begun with four straight wins.

  • Lakers center Andrew Bynum powers his way to the basket against Magic center… (Kim Klement / US Presswire)
February 13, 2011|By Broderick Turner

Reporting from Orlando, Fla. — The Lakers did not put in a full day's work Sunday, resulting in a stack of season lows, and a winning streak ended by an opponent that had been teetering.

After earning their keep, for the most part, in the first half against the Orlando Magic, the Lakers essentially knocked off for the rest of the afternoon.

They scored just 34 points in the second half, when they were done in by Dwight Howard, whose dominating performance led the Magic to an 89-75 victory at Amway Center.

Howard had 22 of his 31 points, eight of his 13 rebounds and all three of his assists after halftime.

Meanwhile, the Lakers were making only 38.9% of their shots in the second half, leading to their first defeat on their annual "Grammy trip," a seven-game, 12-day sojourn that had begun impressively with four consecutive victories.

"I told the players since they took part of the day off [Sunday], maybe [Monday] we can get after Charlotte, just redeem ourselves against them," Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said.

The Lakers' point total was a season low, the fewest they've scored since a 91-75 loss to Oklahoma City last March 26. It was their lowest total against Orlando since a 110-84 loss in March 1997.

They made only seven of 15 free throws Sunday, a season-low 46.7%. And they were two for 16 from three-point range, a season-low 12.5%.

"If you shoot a free-throw low for the season from the line, score a season low, then you better play damned good defense," said Lamar Odom, who had 15 points but missed five of 10 free throws. "And we weren't at the damned-good-defense point today."

Especially against Howard. The Orlando center was 13 for 16 from the field. He had six offensive rebounds. He had six dunks, and when he wasn't dunking, he was making left- and right-handed runners.

The Magic needed that, because the team had been running in place for more than a month — 5-6 in its previous 11 games, 9-9 in its last 18 before Sunday.

Kobe Bryant, who didn't have one of his better games, was asked to describe Howard's play.

"Like a Transformer," Bryant said.

Bryant had a quiet 17 points, missing 10 of 18 shots, including three of four three-point attempts. Lakers center Andrew Bynum had a solid 17 points and nine rebounds, but Pau Gasol had little impact, finishing with 11 points and four rebounds.

"I think they did a great job defensively," Bryant said. "I think they tried to keep us on the perimeter as much as possible and [make us] take contested shots."

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