LAst Night's Action: Lakers Make a Statement

Kobe Bryant and the Lakers making a statement. AP Photo/Chris Carlson

LA Lakers defeat Utah Jazz 125-112. All day the talk had been whether the Lakers should tank the game so as to try and avoid the Jazz in the first round. All of that was put to rest as the Lakers made a statement against the short-handed Jazz with a flurry of assists. The 39 assists was the most by a Lakers team at the Staples Center. The starters looked great, the bench looked great. It was just a great showing for a team getting ready for the real season to start. The Lakers 65 wins in the regular season is the third best in franchise history tied with the 1986-1987 team that went on to defeat the Boston Celtics four games to two in the NBA Finals. The Lakers will face the Jazz in the first round of the playoffs.

Seattle Mariners defeat LA Angels 3-2 (10). Angels starter Shane Loux had a decent outing going 5 1/3 innings giving up two runs on five hits and three walks with two strikeouts. The Angels had many chances to plate more runs but went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position. The game was lost in the tenth inning when with Franklin Gutierrez on second Yuniesky Betancourt hit a bunt along the third baseline. Angels reliever Scot Shields picked the ball and overthrew to first allowing Gutierrez to come in for the win.

Notable Notes

• Oscar de la Hoya announced his retirement on Tuesday in front of Staples Center. The 1992 Olympic gold medal winner won 10 titles in six different weight classes. The 36-year old ends with a 39-6 record with 30 KOs. His best fight was his eleventh round TKO of Fernando Vargas who ended up testing positive for stanazolol after the fight. Now whether de la Hoya will stay retired will remain to be seen. I have rarely seen a boxer make good on his first retirement.

• The Dodgers traded outfielder Delwyn Young to the Pittsburgh Pirates for two PTBNL (players to be named later). Speaking of trading with the Pirates, the folks at Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness did a where-are-they-now look of Andy LaRoche and Bryan Morris the players the Dodgers gave up for Manny Ramirez last season. Maybe Ned Colletti is smarter than I gave him credit for.
• Red Sox starter Josh Beckett was suspended six games for his throw at Bobby Abreu's head Sunday afternoon. While Beckett should have been tossed from the game for his Bush League antics, this suspension is just outright stupid. Granted both benches cleared, but no punches were thrown.

Tonight's Action

San Francisco Giants at LA Dodgers. Matt Cain vs. Clayton Kershaw. 7:10 pm FS Prime Ticket, AM 790 KABC.

LA Angels at Seattle Mariners. Jered Weaver vs. Jarrod Washburn. 7:10 pm FSWest, AM 830 KLAA/AM 980 KFWB.

Oklahoma City Thunder at LA Clippers. 7:30 pm AM 710 KSPN. No tv.