Lakers 84, Blazers 80

The Lakers won their fourth in a row and their 12th in their last 13 games when they rallied to defeat the Portland Trail Blazers tonight at Staples Center. They also clinched the Pacific Division title and the playoff berth that goes with it. Kobe Bryant scored 22 points on 9-for-20 shooting, Lamar Odom had 16 points and 11 rebounds and Pau Gasol added 14 points and 13 rebounds. Andrew Bynum served the first game of a two-game suspension. Nicolas Batum had 25 points for the Trail Blazers, a possible first-round playoff opponent. LaMarcus Aldridge added 18 points. The Lakers (50-20) won with defense, holding the Trail Blazers to 14 points on 5-for-18 shooting (27.8 percent) in the fourth quarter.