Lakers win third consecutive road game

Lakers 92 - Nets 83 (end of regulation)

The Lakers closed out an impressive win on the road, defeating the Brooklyn Nets 92-83.

Playing without Dwight Howard (shoulder), Metta World Peace (suspension) and, in crunch time, Pau Gasol (out with a foot injury), the Lakers scored the game’s final 10 points to come back from a one-point deficit with 2 1/2 minutes left on the clock.

Earl Clark got a late stop, guarding Brooklyn’s All-Star center Brook Lopez, and then scored on the other end to put the Lakers up by five with just over a minute left in the game.

After missing a pair of important free throws against the Detroit Pistons, Steve Nash hit four free throws to ice the Lakers’ victory. Nash scored 17 for the Lakers with eight assists. Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 21 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four steals.

Clark was a major factor with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Steve Blake scored all seven of his points in the fourth, helping the Lakers stay close while struggling for offense.

Lopez led all scorers with 30 points. Deron Williams scored 15 in the game but just four after the first quarter.

The Lakers shot 45.1% from the field while the Nets struggled at just 34.8%. Brooklyn finished with a dominating 20 offensive rebounds to the Lakers’ five.

The Lakers won their third-straight road game, improving to 23-26. The Nets dip to 28-20.

Gasol tweaked his foot in the fourth quarter. After trying to play through it, he left to the locker room with just under four minutes left in the game.

Lakers 67 - Nets 64 (end of third quarter)

The Lakers weren’t able to maintain much of their lead in the third quarter. After extending to 13, the Lakers gave up a 7-0 run to the Nets. Brooklyn eventually took a slight lead before the Lakers climbed back on top heading into the fourth.

Brook Lopez led all scorers with 18 points but the Nets shot just 36.9% from the field. The Lakers dipped to 44.4% for the game, struggling on the offensive glass still (15-5 advantage for the Nets).

The Lakers were led by Kobe Bryant with 17 rebounds and eight rebounds but also five turnovers.

Both teams have just nine apiece from their respective benches.

Lakers 49 - Nets 40 (halftime)

Coach Mike D’Antoni took a gamble to start the second, rolling out a lineup with Earl Clark, Steve Blake, Jodie Meeks, Chris Duhon and Robert Sacre. That group, playing their first minutes together as a group this season, pulled the Lakers ahead of the Nets with Earl Clark as the primary scorer.

Clark finished the half with 10 points, second to Pau Gasol who had 13. Once the Lakers had their starters back in, they pushed the lead to 12 before Mirza Teletovic hit a three to close the half.

The Lakers shot 48.8% from the field while the Nets hit just 33.3%. The saving grace for Brooklyn has been offensive rebounds, where they dominated with a 10-3 advantage.

Brook Lopez led the Nets with 12 points. Deron Williams had 11 in the first quarter but didn’t score in the second.

Kobe Bryant head into the half with nine points, seven rebounds and four assists.

Nets 24 - Lakers 18 (end of first quarter)

The Lakers struggled in the first quarter against the Brooklyn Nets, playing without Dwight Howard (shoulder) and Metta World Peace (suspension).

Pau Gasol started for Howard, scoring six points on 3-6 shooting to lead the Lakers. Antawn Jamison got the call at small forward, scoring three with a team-high four rebounds.

Defensively, the Lakers had a hard time against Deron Williams, who scored 11 points in 12 minutes. The Nets shot just 40.9% from the field.

The Lakers shot 38.1%, letting the Nets go on a 7-0 run after an even start.

Pregame

The Lakers (22-26) visit the Brooklyn Nets (28-19) on Tuesday night, looking to win their third-straight road game.

They’ll need to get it done without Dwight Howard (shoulder) and Metta World Peace (suspension) against a Nets team that is playing well for Coach P.J. Carlesimo after a mediocre start. Currently Brooklyn is fifth in the Eastern Conference but just a hair behind the third place Indiana Pacers.

Coach Mike D’Antoni made his Lakers debut at Staples Center against the Nets, getting his tenure started with a win. Getting it done in Brooklyn will be difficult.

For a more in-depth breakdown, check out Preview: Lakers at Nets.

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Email Eric Pincus at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.