NBA Game Summary - LA Lakers at Golden State

Oakland, CA (Basketball News) - Kobe Bryant scored 42 points and became the youngest player in NBA history to 16,000 points, as the Los Angeles Lakers built a huge lead in the third quarter on the way to a 106-94 victory over the Golden State Warriors.

Bryant was just 11-of-29 from the field, but went 4-of-8 from three-point range and 16-of-18 at the foul line. Bryant was 27 years, 192 days old on Friday, when he broke the 16,000 point mark. That’s four days younger than the previous mark, established by Wilt Chamberlain on March 5, 1964. Michael Jordan had been second at 28 years, 31 days.

Chris Mihm added 16 points and Brian Cook scored 12 for the Lakers, who have won two of their last three heading into Saturday night’s home game against the Detroit Pistons.

Jason Richardson hit for 27 points and Baron Davis returned to the lineup with 10 points on 4-of-12 shooting for Golden State, which has dropped five of its last six. Troy Murphy added 18 points for the Warriors, who shot just 33.3 percent for the game, including 27.8 percent (20-of-72) over the final three quarters.

Davis had missed the last seven games with a sprained right ankle, which he suffered February 11 at Cleveland.

The Lakers were behind 31-30 after the opening quarter, but scored 13 in a row from late in the first into the second to gain control. Bryant had eight of those points, and when the run ended on Luke Walton’s layup, the Lakers extended to a 40-31 lead.

Los Angeles was ahead 59-49 at the half and widened its margin to 21 points in the third, as a Bryant three-pointer made it 88-67 with 59 seconds left in the period.

Golden State closed the gap to nine points twice, the last time at 101-92 on a dunk by Andris Biedrins with 1:47 left. Davis had a couple of chances to draw the Warriors closer, but missed a layup and jumper with just over a minute left.