Williams scores 24, Lakers use late rally to top 76ers 93-84

The Lakers are not exactly a defensive juggernaut but are enjoying their first winning streak of the season after picking off the Philadelphia 76ers 93-84 on Friday to make it two straight.

In contrast, Los Angeles began the new year with one of its best defensive efforts. This was something to celebrate. He was joking. Presumably.

The Philadelphia 76ers were playing their second night in a row, and against a formidable Los Angeles team.

The Lakers held a 62-60 lead after three quarters, and the two teams had COMBINED to shoot 67 percent from the field.

So when the Los Angeles Lakers came to town, Thomas reached out to Bryant’s camp, hoping to meet up with the probable future NBA Hall of Famer and possibly get a jersey signed, he told The Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach.

As is customary during a busy stretch, the Clippers taped a free-throw line inside their locker room to stage their pregame walk-through.

NOTES: Clippers G J.J. Redick has been on a recent tear with his 3-point shooting, hitting 50.9 percent of his shots in the previous 18 games. It was not exciting. “In the third quarter we stopped getting stops”. The Lakers were still stuck on 40 points. “If you look at the stat sheets and put their combined totals (together), they’re having some big-time nights”. Phoenix, which let go of its top defensive assistant as part of a recent shakeup on the coaching staff, gave up 83 points in the second half alone. “I think we’ll just take it game-by-game”, Scott said…. “I want to see if that same group can duplicate that for a couple games”.

The Clippers set a season high with 69 points in the first half and broke the 100-point barrier with 11/2 minutes left in the third quarter on the way to a 130-99 victory over the team with the NBA’s worst record.

“Kobe told me: ‘I just can’t get it loose, but I can do other things.’ So there was nothing at that time that really affected him as far as his play, but today and yesterday it probably even stiffened up a little more”, Scott said. “They haven’t as of yet”.

WHO STOOD OUT – Several Lakers played well, including O.C. native Anthony Brown. He had five points and five rebounds. It was also the most points the Sixers (3-33) have allowed.

76ers center Jahlil Okafor, drafted one spot below Russell last June, had 12 points and four rebounds.

They were demoted to reserve status 14 games ago, though Scott said Russell’s path back to the starting five would be easier.

Providing Power Scott highlighted power forwards Larry Nance Jr. and Julius Randle – both of whom are averaging double-doubles in the Lakers’ past four games. Center Nerlens Noel had 13 points and eight boards.

Head to head, the Suns are 4-0-1ATS in the last five meetings overall and 3-1-1 ATS in the last five meetings in Los Angeles.