LOS ANGELES _ There are times when the joy with which Lance Stephenson plays permeates the Los Angeles Lakers' roster and their building. Those moments don't always coincide with the right basketball play, but sometimes they do.
One of those moments came in the second quarter Tuesday against the Washington Wizards when Stephenson sized up Jeff Green, stepped left, right, then crossed him over (possibly stepping on his foot), sending the veteran defender stumbling several steps backward.
As Green regained his composure, the Lakers bench _ mostly populated by starters at that point _ lost theirs. They jumped and hollered and waved their towels. Stephenson, now unguarded, shot a jumper that swished through the net. His teammates on the bench exploded with joy. One fell flat on his back in disbelief. JaVale McGee and Scott Machado rolled around on the baseline in a two-person pile. Luke Walton watched his players a few feet away, grinning with hands on his hips.
The quarter ended five seconds later and McGee was still on the ground. Wide eyed with mouth agape, Stephenson came over to clasp McGee's hand and bring him back to his feet.
It was the most fun the Lakers had had on the court in a very long while. That energy never left them as they beat the Wizards, 124-106, notching their 33rd win of the season. With two more they will match last year's total.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope led the Lakers with 29 points while Washington's Bradley Beal led all scorers with 32 points. LeBron James scored 23 points with 14 assists and seven rebounds. Scott Machado, on a 10-day contract after spending the season with the South Bay Lakers, scored his first NBA points with a three-pointer in the fourth quarter.
