His health has rarely been right. His mentality during games questioned in the past. But on a night against the best big man in the league in Dwight Howard, Andrew Bynum came up with a career night. Bynum controlled the glass and the paint defensively as he helped the Lakers push through with a decisive 97-84 victory Monday at Staples Center.
For the Lakers (48-20), five players finished in double figures, including 10 points, a career-high 18 rebounds and four blocks from Bynum. Pau Gasol led all scorers with 23 points and Lamar Odom added 16. Battling a left ankle sprain, Kobe Bryant finished with 16 points.
Meanwhile, the Heat took avenge on a 30-point loss a few days ago by blowing past San Antonio with the big three combining for a crazy 80 points. Among the title containders, Boston were beaten by the Nets in a tight affair as Devon Williams sank a clutch 3 down the stretch.