NBA - Lakers close gap on West leaders Spurs [video]

LOS ANGELES (NBA) - The two-time defending champions Los Angeles Lakers cut San Antonio's lead in the NBA's Western Conference to just four games on Sunday by beating New Orleans 102-84.

The Hornets, stung by the season-ending knee injury suffered by star player David West last week, had no answer for Spain's Pau Gasol who led LA with 23 points and 16 rebounds.

The Lakers (53-20) gained ground on San Antonio (57-16) because the Spurs, without injured center Tim Duncan, lost 111-104 at Memphis.

Pau's younger brother, Marc, had 11 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four blocks for the Grizzlies.

Zach Randolph and Tony Allen each scored 23 points for Memphis, who are eighth in the West and just a game behind New Orleans.

The Grizzlies pulled further ahead of Houston, who were beaten 125-119 at Miami.

LeBron James torched the Rockets with 33 points, grabbed 10 boards and handed out seven assists.

Memphis are 41-33 while Houston are two and a half games behind at 38-35.

Miami are 51-22 and a half-game adrift of Boston (51-21) in the East and two and a half behind Chicago (53-19).

Boston edged an 85-82 victory at Minnesota with Kevin Garnett scoring 13 points and hauling in 13 rebounds against his former team.

Timberwolves' Team USA star Kevin Love missed the game with a strained left groin.

Philadelphia (37-36) went down at home to Sacramento in overtime, 114-111.

The Sixers, sixth in the East, now trail fifth-place Atlanta (42-32) by four and a half games because the Hawks prevailed 99-83 at Cleveland.

Other results: Portland 90 Oklahoma City 99, Washington 104 Golden State 114, Dallas 91 Phoenix 83.

Team USA's World Championship center Tyson Chandler had 16 points and 18 rebounds for Dallas.

Top 10



Daily Zap



FIBA