Jeremy Lin scored 18 points and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Orlando Magic without Kobe Bryant, pulling away for a 101-84 win on Friday night.
Rookie Tarik Black got 10 of his career-high 14 points in the fourth quarter, when Los Angeles out-scored Orlando 28-17 while stretching a six-point lead to as high as 19 down the stretch.
The Lakers out-rebounded the Magic 60-36, with Carlos Boozer collecting 14 boards and 12 points and Ed David getting 10 and 10. Ryan Kelly added 13 points and Jordan Hill scored 11 with nine rebounds.
Bryant rested for the second time in three games. He sat out Monday's loss to Portland, the second game of a back-to-back, then had a season-low four points on 2-of-12 shooting in a loss to the Clippers on Wednesday.
The Lakers snapped their two-game losing streak without him, winning for the fourth time in their last 13 games.
Victor Oladipo had 17 points and Tobias Harris scored 15 for the Magic, who have lost five in a row. Nikola Vucevic had 14 points and 11 rebounds in the loss and Luke Ridnour scored 12.
The Lakers never trailed after being down 4-2 early in the game. Kelly scored eight points in the first quarter and the Lakers led by as many as 11. They led by 12 late in the second.
Their advantage fluctuated between six and 11 points in the third quarter and was 73-67 entering the fourth. Lin and Black keyed a 9-0 run that stretched the advantage from three points to 12 with nine minutes remaining in the game and the Magic were never closer than eight after that.
Game Notes
Black had nine rebounds ... The Lakers continue a four-game homestand on Sunday against Portland ... The Magic play in Portland on Saturday.
[SportsNetwork.com]
