Rookie Tarik Black Helps Lakers Beat Magic, 101-84
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jeremy Lin scored 18 points, Carlos Boozer added 12 points and 14 rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Orlando Magic, 101-84, on Friday night without Kobe Bryant.
Rookie Tarik Black had all of his career-high 14 points and nine rebounds in the second half for the Lakers, who won for the second time in their five games this season with Bryant sitting out to rest.
Victor Oladipo scored 17 points and Tobias Harris added 15 for the Magic, who have lost five straight for the first time this season.
The Lakers maintained a lead throughout the final 45 minutes, and they finished off Orlando with a 12-2 run midway through the fourth quarter, highlighted by three straight baskets from Boozer.
Former USC star Nikola Vucevic had 14 points and 11 rebounds for the Magic, who were outrebounded 60-36, including 31-16 in the second half.
Los Angeles got an eye-catching performance from Black, the big man recently acquired off waivers from Houston. After sitting out the first half, Black made all four of his shots and his first six free throws, exciting the Staples Center crowd with his energy and persistence on the boards.
Lin lost his starting job earlier in the season, but he led the Lakers' steady effort down the stretch, scoring eight points in the fourth quarter.
Ryan Kelly added 13 points and eight rebounds, and Jordan Hill had 11 points and nine boards.
Bryant wasn't at Staples Center. He also sat out three games last month, and he missed Monday's game in Portland.
Lakers coach Byron Scott says he is trying to preserve the 36-year-old veteran for a long season, and Bryant has acquiesced to his coach's wishes so far. Scott says he'll decide before each game whether to use the 19-year pro.
TIP-INS
Magic: Coach Jacque Vaughn is a Los Angeles-area native who grew up rooting for the Lakers' championship teams of the 1980s. Before the game, he rattled off the uniform numbers of the starters, including No. 4, Byron Scott. ... Channing Frye played despite an injured right arm, scoring six points. ... Orlando is midway through a four-game road trip.
Lakers: Lin blocked a shot by 7-footer Dewayne Dedmon in the first quarter. ... The Lakers held a pregame moment of silence for Alina Kupchak, the 15-year-old daughter of Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak, who died earlier this week after a lengthy illness. ... Starting forward Wesley Johnson missed his third straight game with a strained right hip flexor.
UP NEXT:
Magic: Visit Portland on Saturday.
Lakers: Host Portland on Sunday.
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