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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, October 12, 2007

Warriors dispatch Lakers

Photo galleryPhoto gallery: Lakers vs. Warriors

By Michael Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, the subject of trade rumors initiated by owner Jerry Buss, drives off a screen set by Ronny Turiaf during last night's NBA preseason game at the Stan Sheriff Center.

JOAQUIN SIOPACK | The Honolulu Advertiser

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Kelenna Azubuike scored 22 points and added five rebounds, four assists and two steals to lead the Golden State Warriors past the Los Angeles Lakers, 119-106, as the two teams wrapped up their Hawai'i training camps with a ragged preseason affair last night at the Stan Sheriff Center.

The Lakers, who played all 15 of their available players, were led by Derek Fisher and Vladimir Radmanovic, who both scored 12 points. Kobe Bryant, the subject of fresh trade speculation, missed eight of his 10 field-goal attempts but finished with 11 points, four rebounds, eight assists and five turnovers.

Rookie Marco Belinelli chipped in 18 points for the Warriors.

With back-to-back wins against Los Angeles, Warriors head coach Don Nelson said he was pleased with the team's work here.

"The whole squad has approached camp with the right attitude," Nelson said. "They opened their minds up and they've done what I've asked them to do."

Lakers head coach Phil Jackson was less enamored of his team's efforts last night.

"I told (the team) I didn't think they did anything well tonight — didn't shoot their jump shots well, didn't pass the ball well," Jackson said. "I thought it was a lackluster performance on our side."

Fisher rode a hot hand in the first quarter, scoring 10 points in less than nine minutes on 4-of-5 shooting from the field and 2-of-3 from the line.

Golden State's Matt Barnes kept pace with nine points on 4-of-4 shooting from the field and 1-of-1 from the line.

In the second quarter, a signature baseline reverse dunk by Bryant electrified the sleepy crowd and brought the Lakers to 44-41 with less than five minutes left in the half.

The Warriors responded with a 7-0 run, keyed by 3-pointer by Troy Hudson and a putback by Pat Burke. After a mishandled pass, Hudson blew past two defenders for a layup.

Coby Karl ended the run with a 3-pointer from the right corner.

Near the end of the quarter, the Lakers closed to 54-50. Again the Warriors pushed back, thanks in part to three turnovers in traffic by Bryant.

After a pair of free throws by Hudson, Barnes scored a driving layup, got fouled by Radmanovic, and converted the ensuing free throw. Hudson then found Mickael Pietrus in the corner for another 3-pointer to give the Warriors their largest lead of the half, 62-50.

The Lakers cut the lead to a more manageable seven points in the final seconds.

"It seemed energy-wise, it just didn't really come to us after the first seven or eight minutes of the first quarter," said the Lakers' Fisher. "It seemed there was a letdown from that point on."

The Warriors led comfortably through the third quarter before finally breaking away for good in the fourth.

With the Warriors ahead 97-87, Azubuike nailed a jumper and Austin Croshere hit a jumper of his own followed by a 3-pointer from the top of the key.

Lakers center Andrew Bynam, rebounding from a miserable third quarter, answered with a dunk, but the Warriors pushed the lead with a jumper by Hudson, a driving layup by Croshere, and a layup by Belinelli that put Golden State ahead 112-93 with 6 1/2 minutes to go. The Lakers would get no closer than 16 points the rest of the way.

Pietrus, who has been seeking a trade, left the game in the third quarter with a strained back. Nelson said Pietrus is fine, but will likely sit out a day or so.

The Stan Sheriff crowd seemed well aware of Bryant's tenuous position with the team, particularly after owner Jerry Buss' comments that he would listen to trade offers. One fan held a banner that read "Trade Kobe."

"In the preseason where there is very limited media availability and contact, I doubt if half the guys even saw or heard about the story," said Fisher. "I wish we would make that the scapegoat (for last night's performance), but I doubt it had anything to do with it at all."

Kwame Brown (left ankle and right shoulder surgeries), Lamar Odom (left shoulder surgery) and new addition Maurice Evans (strained left hamstring) sat out for the Lakers.

Reach Michael Tsai at mtsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.

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