Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Pau Gasol had his third career triple- double with 12 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists, and despite Kobe Bryant's lowest point total in over a year, the Los Angeles Lakers dominated Atlanta, 96-83, at the Staples Center.
Coming off his co-MVP performance with ex-Laker Shaquille O'Neal in the All- Star Game, Bryant totaled just 10 points on 4-of-12 shooting in nearly 29 minutes of court time. It's his lowest point total since February 5, 2008, when he scored six at New Jersey.
Lamar Odom scored 15 and had a season-high 20 rebounds for the Lakers, who won for the eighth time in nine games. They headed to the All-Star break with a 113-109 loss at Utah, but have now won 12 of their last 14 contests, also moving to 25-4 at home.
"We were rusty in the first half," said Lakers coach Phil Jackson. "And then our young guns came in and bailed us out. Obviously we had a lot of support with Lamar getting 20 rebounds. We started playing in rhythm and passed the ball well."
Trevor Ariza and Jordan Farmar each scored 10 for Los Angeles, which dominated by a 67-39 count on the glass and forced the Hawks to shoot 36.9 percent from the field.
Joe Johnson had 14 points, Josh Smith scored 13 and Marvin Williams 10 for the Hawks, who came into the post All-Star break having won four of their last five games. But this was the continuation of an arduous road trip for the Hawks, who won at Detroit right before the All-Star game. They're on a stretch of playing six straight and nine of 11 games on the road.
"We played well for a quarter and a half," said Atlanta coach Mike Woodson. "Then they hit us in the mouth and we shut it down. LA's defense was solid and they shot it well. They were good tonight."
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Zaza Pachulia had 12 rebounds for Atlanta, which has dropped 16 of its last 19 at the Lakers.
Ahead by nine at the half, the Lakers opened the third quarter on a dominating 16-2 spurt. Bryant and Fisher hit consecutive three-pointers, and Fisher's runner with under eight minutes left moved LA to a 61-38 bulge.
The margin stood at 85-60 going into the fourth, and the Lakers were on cruise control over the final 12 minutes, even getting new acquisition Adam Morrison into the game.
The Hawks scored six of the game's first seven points and managed a 24-23 lead after 12 minutes, but the Lakers used a 12-2 spurt midway through the second, expanding to a 40-32 lead following a Josh Powell jumper to cap the flurry.
Fisher's three-pointer represented the final offensive push for the half, leaving the hosts with a 45-36 lead.
