WIZARDS EDGE LAKERS BRYANT HAS A TRIPLE-DOUBLE IN OT DEFEAT WASHINGTON 120, LAKERS 116.

Byline: Ross Siler Staff Writer

There are the pretend Hardwood Classics nights when the Lakers dress in throwback jerseys as part of an NBA promotion and play the Washington Wizards, also known as the 1970-71 Baltimore Bullets.

Then there is the real thing when Shaquille O'Neal comes to town a week from today as a member of the Miami Heat and the trip down memory lane through three championship seasons isn't so sugary sweet.

The Lakers tuned up for the latter with the former Friday night and made little more than a fashion statement at Staples Center. They blew a chance to build any momentum off Thursday's victory over Sacramento and lost 120-116 in overtime.

Kobe Bryant's fourth triple-double of the season went to waste and the Lakers once again struggled in the second of back-to-back games. It was the Wizards' first win in Los Angeles against the Lakers since Feb. 14, 1992.

Gilbert Arenas (Grant High of Van Nuys) was next to unstoppable for Washington, scoring 37 points. Bryant finished with 36 points, a season- high 14 assists and 10 rebounds in 50 minutes.

The Wizards controlled the overtime period, with Bryant missing his first three shots while Larry Hughes and Antawn Jamison both connected on jumpers for Washington. Arenas followed a well-blazed trail to the basket and Jared Jeffries dunked on the break.

Undeterred, the Lakers fought back from six points down, cutting the Wizards' lead to 114-113 with 33.3 seconds left on two Bryant free throws. But former Lakers guard Anthony Peeler buried a 3-pointer from the left side with 11.1 remaining to seal the victory.

The Lakers (13-10) had a chance to defeat a team with a winning record for the fourth time in seven days. Instead they left with another dispiriting loss, coming just a week before they play O'Neal and the Heat on Christmas Day.

Both teams had a chance to win in regulation. Butler missed an open 3-pointer off a pass from Bryant with 19 seconds left and Arenas' floater at the final horn over Bryant hit the front of the rim. That sent the Lakers into overtime for the first time this season.

With the Wizards leading 101-100 heading into the final four minutes, Caron Butler missed two jumpers that could have put the Lakers in front. But Butler redeemed himself by finishing a strong drive with a layup.

Bryant tied the game at 104 with 46.8 seconds left in regulation, beating Hughes, drawing a Michael Ruffin foul and converting two free throws. At the other end, Jamison swooped to the hoop but missed the shot and the Lakers controlled the rebound.

Arenas hit 14-of-15 free throws and was so hot Atkins only could shake his head when Arenas hit an 18-footer over him with 4:18 remaining.

Atkins had a season-high 23 points and Brian Cook added 15 points off the bench, hitting five 3-pointers and three in the first quarter to help the Lakers keep pace.

The Lakers donned the sky blue road jerseys of the 1959-60 Minneapolis Lakers, who were led by Elgin Baylor and Rudy LaRusso, finished 25-50 and relocated to Los Angeles after the season.

As part of the Hardwood Classics night, the Laker girls wore sweaters and waved pompons and Staples Center was filled with the sounds of Ritchie Valens, Chubby Checker and The Kingsmen during timeouts.

After missing everything on a 3-pointer late in the first quarter, Bryant took over promptly in the second. He sparked a 11-3 Lakers run by beating Jarvis Hayes off the dribble then dodging Larry Hughes in midair on a gorgeous reverse layup.

Bryant hit jumpers over Jeffries and Jamison on the way to scoring 11 points in the quarter. But the Lakers still went into halftime tied 54-54 as Arenas drove the lane and hit a layup at the buzzer.

One night earlier in Sacramento, Lakers coach Rudy Tomjanovich took in his team's 16-point victory over the Kings and said, ``It's a crazy game and I know the next game could be completely opposite.'' That was exactly what it was.

For the fifth time in six games, the Lakers gave up 30 points in the first quarter as the Wizards put on a clinic of how to run the 3 on 1 break. Arenas shouldered past Atkins on his way to the basket, then buried a 3-pointer on the next possession.

Ross Siler, [phone]

ross.siler(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, 2 boxes

Photo:

(1 -- color) Kobe Bryant recorded a triple-double in the Lakers' 120-116 overtime loss to Washington on Friday night.

(2) Lakers forward Lamar Odom, right, drives to the basket as Washington's Brendan Haywood defends during Friday's game at Staples Center.

Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer

Box:

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(2) GAME RECAP