NBA – Red-hot Lakers rout Mavericks; Celtic hand Spurs fifth straight defeat [video]

LOS ANGELES (NBA) - The Los Angeles Lakers blew out the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night to win for the 16th time in 17 games since the All-Star break.

The 110-82 rout, coupled with Boston's 107-97 triumph at San Antonio, allowed the Lakers to close the gap on the Western Conference-leading Spurs to just two and a half games.

LA (54-20) also moved a game and a half clear of third-place Dallas (53-22).

The two-time defending champions got 18 points, 13 rebounds and two blocks from center Andrew Bynum while Kobe Bryant poured in 28 points.

His fellow Team USA start Lamar Odom contributed 16 points and 11 boards off the bench and Spain's Pau Gasol added 20 points.

Germany national team star Dirk Nowitzki scored 27 points and hauled in 13 rebounds for the Mavs (53-22).

There was plenty of intensity in this contest, evidence that the play-offs are right around the corner.

The Lakers' Matt Barnes and Steve Blake and the Mavericks' Jason Terry and Brendan Haywood were ejected early in the fourth quarter.

Trouble started when Blake drove towards the basket and was pushed to the floor by Terry.

Blake got up and moved in the direction of the Mavericks guard but was held back, and both Barnes and Haywood also got involved.

"This is a family here," Barnes said.

"So if someone comes and hits your brother, pushes your brother, then you definitely have their back. And that's the case here.

"I definitely lost my cool, but I think (Terry) may have lost his cool a little bit for the fact we were really putting it on their team."

Kobe Bryant felt like the altercation ended up being a good thing for his team.

"It brings us closer together, simple as that," he said.

Shannon Brown of LA was later thrown out as well following a different incident.

San Antonio center Tim Duncan returned after a four-game absence with a sprained ankle and had 20 points and 13 rebounds but it wasn't enough against a Celtics side that got 22 points and 14 assists from point guard Rajon Rondo.

Big man Jermaine O'Neal had five points in 11 minutes for Boston in his first game back since January 10.

The veteran was out of action after having a knee operation.

"We need him back," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said.

That statement meant even more considering a knee injury suffered by Boston center Nenad Krstic on Thursday.

The Serbia national team captain got hurt during the game and is scheduled to have an MRI on Saturday.

Boston improved to 52-22 and pulled them to within two games of Eastern Conference leaders Chicago.

They also moved a half-game clear of third-place Miami.

France's Tony Parker scored 23 points and dished out eight assists for San Antonio, who lost for the fifth time in a row and fell to 57-18.

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