28 March,2009 12:27 PM IST | | AFP
The Los Angeles Lakers secured the top seed in the National Basketball Association's Western Conference playoffs this morning with a 103-95 victory over New Jersey.
Spain's Pau Gasol poured in a season-high 36 points with 11 rebounds for the Lakers, whose superstar Kobe Bryant was slowed by uncharacteristically cold shooting - connecting on only 5-of-19 from the floor - and a turned right ankle.
Even so, Bryant scored 12 points in the second half to take his total to 14, and chipped in nine assists as Los Angeles won their fifth straight game and made sure of home court advantage throughout the Western Conference playoffs.
Derek Fisher added 18 points and Lamar Odom had 12 points and 11 rebounds, and coach Phil Jackson notched a record-setting 728th game at the Lakers' helm.
Jackson passed Pat Riley's 727 for most games coached in Lakers' history.
