Lakers trounce Warriors to remain unbeaten

LOS ANGELES, (Reuters) – Los Angeles Lakers  All-Stars Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol helped the two-time  defending NBA champions breeze to a 3-0 start to the season  with a one-sided 107-83 victory over the Golden State Warriors  on Sunday.

Spanish center Gasol paced the team with 26 points and 12  rebounds while Bryant recorded 20 points and seven rebounds in  just 27 minutes of work.

“It feels good (to rest down the stretch). That means we’re  taking care of business,” Bryant told reporters. “We’re playing  well, the pieces we have complement each other and we’re just  going to keep it rolling.”

The Lakers got off to a fast start, outscoring the Warriors  34-14 in the first quarter, and cruised to their 10th straight  win against Golden State, who last defeated Los Angeles in  March 2008.

Lamar Odom scored 11 of his 16 points in the opening  quarter and also chipped in 14 rebounds to continue his strong  start after spending the summer helping the United States win a  gold medal at the FIBA World Championships.

Monta Ellis scored a team-high 20 points for the Warriors  (2-1) who had began the year with two wins but were without  sharp-shooting guard Stephen Curry who missed the game with an  ankle injury.

Curry averaged 17.5 points per game last season to finish  runner-up for the Rookie of the Year Award, but he has been  slowed by an ankle ailment since the preseason.

In his absence, Golden State shot just 40 percent from the  field and was outrebounded 55-42.
In their quest for a third straight NBA title, the Lakers  have leaned on Gasol early in the campaign while Bryant works  his way back from offseason knee surgery and center Andrew  Bynum sits out after his own knee procedure.

“Probably (this is the best start I’ve had in my career),”  said Gasol, who has led the team in scoring in two of the three  games. “I try not to look at numbers. I’m happy with us playing  well and we’ll try to continue.”