Los Angeles (35-8) is beginning to run away with the West, taking a six-game lead over the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday after defeating them 99-85. The Lakers have the NBA's best record.

The game was so lopsided that Kobe Bryant sat out the fourth quarter, finishing with 22 points. Andrew Bynum had 15 points and 11 rebounds for his third straight double-double and Pau Gasol, the only starter to play in the final period, added 16 points.

The win was the 14th in 17 games for the Lakers, who held the Spurs to 37.5 percent shooting in one of their best defensive efforts of the season. They led by as many as 21 points and had five players score in double figures, including Jordan Farmar, who had 14 points in his return after missing 17 games because of an injured left knee.

"He makes our second unit go, he's the motor," Bryant said of Farmar. "Now that he is back, everybody falls into their natural positions and we are back clicking on all cylinders."

Farmar's return gives the Lakes a completely healthy lineup for the first time in quite a while. Luke Walton was playing Sunday in his third game since missing nine with an injured foot, while Lamar Odom (knee) and Sasha Vujacic (back spasms) also missed some time recently.

The win was Los Angeles' fourth straight overall and improved it to 23-3 at Staples Center. A six-game road trip will follow Tuesday's game.

While the Lakers have been one of the NBA's elite teams for some time, they've still struggled recently against the Bobcats (18-26), who haven't won more than 33 games in any of their previous four seasons. Los Angeles has split eight all-time meetings with Charlotte and has dropped four of the last five, including the past two at Staples Center.

The Bobcats also come in with some confidence after winning five of their last seven. However, they are coming off a 98-93 road loss to the Indiana Pacers on Sunday.

Raymond Felton and Boris Diaw each scored 18 points, but Charlotte was outrebounded 52-36 and couldn't overcome a 14-point deficit despite cutting it to single digits several times. The Bobcats had held their previous six opponents to an average of 85.3 points, but they gave up 54 points in the first half on Sunday.

"We didn't match their energy early and we got killed on the boards in the first half," coach Larry Brown said. "When you're on the road and you give a team a jump-start like that, it's pretty tough to overcome."

While Charlotte has played better recently, an upcoming stretch of games could threaten to derail its progress.

The Bobcats have four games left on this five-game road swing, including visits to Portland, Denver and Utah. Their two games following the trip come against Atlanta and Miami, meaning they don't face a team with a losing record until Feb. 9 when they host the Los Angeles Clippers.