Lakers get back at Warriors

Different night, different city, same frenzied pace.

The Los Angeles Lakers did what they could to stay within striking distance of the Golden State Warriors on Monday night at Oracle Arena. Sweat poured from their furrowed brows as they chased the Warriors around the court.

Both teams stomped on the gas pedal and hit top speed from the opening tip before the Lakers pulled away from the Warriors in overtime for a 123-119 victory in front of a record crowd of 20,713 at Oracle Arena.

The Warriors beat the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday at Staples Center and were going for a two-game sweep.

The Lakers regained sole possessions of first place in the overheated Western Conference, breaking a tie with the idle New Orleans Hornets. The Lakers are 49-22; the Hornets are 47-21. The third-place Houston Rockets are 48-23.

Playing their sixth consecutive game without 7-foot center Pau Gasol, the Lakers rallied from a 63-52 halftime deficit to take a small lead in the fourth quarter.

The Lakers were 14-3 in their last 17 games against the Warriors. They also were 2-3 without Pau Gasol, who sprained his left ankle March 14 against the Hornets.

They seemed to have this one in hand, taking a 110-101 lead after Lamar Odom's driving layup inside the final three minutes. But the Warriors went on an 8-0 run to cut the Lakers' lead to 110-109 inside the final minute.

Odom made a free throw to make it 111-109 with 9.9 seconds left. Baron Davis then tied the score at 111-all with two free throws with 3.6 remaining for Golden State. The Lakers' Derek Fisher missed what would have been a game-winning 17-footer at the buzzer.

The Lakers were marginally better defensively in the first half Monday at Oakland than they were Sunday at Staples Center. They gave up only 63 points after surrendering a season-high 72 in Sunday's loss to the Warriors.

The Lakers begin a five-game homestand Wednesday against Charlotte.

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