Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Kobe Bryant posted a game-high 26 points and the Lakers used a big third quarter to cruise to a 100-86 win over the Portland Trail Blazers.
Los Angeles' victory, coupled with the setbacks by Boston and Cleveland earlier Sunday, gives the Lakers the best record in the league at 27-5.
Pau Gasol finished with 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the field, while Vladimir Radmanovic and Sasha Vujacic came off the bench to chip in 16 and 11 points, respectively, in LA's sixth straight win.
The Blazers, who were coming off a 3-2 homestand, were without star Brandon Roy (hamstring) for the third straight game and were led by LaMarcus Aldridge's 22 points and 11 rebounds. Nicolas Batum made all six of his attempts from the floor for 17 points, but Portland as a whole shot a mediocre 39.0 percent from the floor.
Though Portland came out and took a 25-19 lead after the first 12 minutes of play, the Lakers used an 8-2 run to finish the second frame, riding that momentum into a dominating third stanza.
LA's 51-50 lead at the break was never relinquished, as back-to-back Gasol field goals midway through the frame was the catalyst behind a 13-2 spurt that gave the Lakers a comfortable lead at 75-59.
Radmanovic's three-pointers to close out the third and open the fourth gave the hosts an 84-66 advantage, as Portland was able to net just one field goal -- a Travis Outlaw three-pointer -- in the first 6 1/2 minutes of the fourth.
Aldridge's jumper with 4:46 remaining pulled the Blazers within 92-77, but Radmanovic grabbed an offensive rebound and laid in another bucket on the ensuing possession to deflate the comeback attempt.
The Lakers' defense again held the Blazers without a field goal for the next two-plus minutes to stay on top with relative ease.
