Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Andrew Bynum followed up a career performance on Wednesday with a game-high 23 points and 14 rebounds to help lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 117-97 romp over the Washington Wizards at Staples Center.
Bynum did his damage in a little over 27 and a half minutes of floor time in the blowout, hitting 8-of-12 from the filed and 7-of-8 at the line one night after posting a career-high 42 points with 15 rebounds in a victory over the Clippers.
Wednesday's win also cemented the fact that Lakers coach Phil Jackson will guide the Western Conference All-Stars for the 2009 NBA All-Star Game, to be played on Sunday, February 15, in Phoenix.
Kobe Bryant posted a triple-double against their co-tenants at the Staples Center but responded with a season-low 11 points on 4-of-11 shooting after being named a starter for the Western Conference All-Stars earlier Thursday.
Pau Gasol chipped in 18 points and Lamar Odom 16 with five boards and as many assists for the Lakers, who won their third straight and seventh in the last nine overall.
The bench had a chance to do some damage as well with Sasha Vujacic contributing 13 points, and Vladimir Radmanovic and Trevor Ariza 10 each.
Antawn Jamison scored 19 points to pace the Wizards, who were hoping to build on just their third road victory of the season but failed miserably in the attempt.
SportsWrap
The top sports headlines of the day
Washington resumed its four-game road trip after evening its record at 1-1 on with a win in Sacramento Wednesday. The club fell to just 3-18 as the visitor this season with this loss.
Javale McGee had 18 points and nine rebounds in the loss while Caron Butler posted 12 points and six assists.
The Lakers controlled the game from the outset, leading 31-24 after 12 minutes and taking a daunting 72-47 advantage into the break after rattling off 41 second-quarter points. The 72 points represented a season-high for the opening 24 minutes of play for LA, which also shot a season-high 69.2 percent from the floor over that stretch.
LA scored 10 straight points in the early stages of the second to stretch the lead to 13 points and Bynum capped the frame with a slam to finish the first half with 16 points.
Following another 10-0 run late in the third, LA led by a whopping 36 points after Vujacic drove to the hoop for two.
An 11-4 burst to start the final stanza gave the Lakers a 108-72 advantage on five straight points from Radmanovic and LA didn't look back from there.
