Los Angeles Lakers Team Report - December 23

(Basketball News) - Chucky Atkins scored a season-high 30 points and Kobe Bryant recorded 22 of his 29 points in the second half as the Los Angeles Lakers downed New Orleans, 101-89, at the Staples Center on Wednesday.

Chris Mihm pulled down a career-best 21 rebounds to go along with 11 points for the Lakers, who had lost two straight and three of four coming in. Lamar Odom also notched a double-double, finishing with 10 points and 13 boards.

On the injury front, the Lakers placed center Vlade Divac on the injured list with a back ailment And activated forward Brian Grant. Divac missed the first 11 games of the season with a herniated disk, while Grant had been sidelined since November 23 with right knee tendinitis.

The Lakers are off until Saturday when they will host Shaquille O’Neal and the Miami Heat in one of the most anticipated regular-season games in recent memory. O’Neal and Bryant had won three straight NBA championships together with the Lakers, but their relationship became so strained that O’Neal demanded a trade in the offseason.