(REUTERS) – Refreshed by the NBA All-Star break, the Los Angeles Lakers flexed their muscles with a 104-80 thrashing of the Atlanta Hawks Tuesday night.
Kobe Bryant followed up an MVP performance in Sunday’s All-Star game with 20 points, while Pau Gasol added 14 points and 10 rebounds as the defending champions ended a three-game losing skid in style.
Much having been made of their recent slump, the Lakers (39-19) quickly jumped on Atlanta and took a 21-point halftime lead before cruising to the finish.
“We have 24 games left in the regular season so the sense of urgency. This is not about statements, it’s about us playing the right way and tonight we did a great job and came out with the win,” said Bryant.
Currently third in the Western Conference, Los Angeles have battled inconsistency all season and they were coming off an embarrassing loss to the NBA-worst Cleveland Cavaliers in their last outing, but against Atlanta they turned up their intensity.
The Hawks (34-22) were held to just 36 per cent shooting and lost for the fourth time in five games.
Joe Johnson was Atlanta’s leading scorer with 14 points as the Hawks fell a game and a half behind the Orlando Magic for fourth-place in the Eastern Conference.
Atlanta were playing the first contest of a five-game road trip against Western Conference teams and the Lakers made it a rude opening for the visitors.
Shannon Brown scored 15 points off the bench and Andrew Bynum made some critical defensive plays, grabbing 15 rebounds and blocking three shots.
“We were out there playing more aggressive defensively and it paid off. We have a goal to beat last year’s record (of 57-25). Setting short-term goals and trying to meet them can change the way we play,” said Bynum.
Other results for the night show (Home team in caps): Indiana 113 WASHINGTON 96, CHARLOTTE 114 Toronto 101, Houston 108 DETROIT 100, MIAMI 117 Sacramento 97, MILWAUKEE 94 Minnesota 88, OKLAHOMA CITY 111 LA Clippers 88, DENVER 120 Memphis 107 and Boston 115 GOLDEN STATE 93.