Post by kramer on Mar 17, 2007 8:20:51 GMT -5
Kobe Bryant ended the Los Angeles Lakers' seven-game losing streak with one of the best games in franchise history.
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His coach gushed about Bryant's 65-point night, as did his teammates — and even some of the Portland Trail Blazers. Still, the Lakers star knew one person would be far from impressed by the high-scoring feat.
"My daughter is outside waiting for me, and I'm sure she doesn't give a damn about what just happened," Bryant said with a grin. "She just wants to watch Care Bears. I'm just happy we won. We needed to get this one."
Bryant scored 24 of his 65 points — the fourth-highest total in franchise history — in the fourth quarter and added nine more in overtime as Los Angeles won 116-111 on Friday night.
"They couldn't keep the ball out of Kobe's hands, and they couldn't keep him from putting that ball in the hoop," Phil Jackson said after his longest losing streak as an NBA head coach ended. "It was remarkable."
Last season's scoring champ shot 23-for-39 from the field, 8-for-12 from 3-point range, and 11-for-12 from the free-throw line. It was the second-highest scoring game of Bryant's career and his third with 60 or more points — including an 81-point outing against Toronto on Jan. 22, 2006, at Staples Center.
"I had to come out aggressive and assert myself, just because our confidence was a little shaky," Bryant said. "We needed a breakout game. And it's my job as a leader to kind of read what we need as a team. And sometimes, me taking over games like this instills confidence in us all."
In other games, it was Miami 103, Sacramento 97; Philadelphia 89, Utah 88; Houston 114, Toronto 100; L.A. Clippers 102, Charlotte 93; New Orleans 92, New York 90; Dallas 106, Boston 101; Detroit 105, Phoenix 83; and Golden State 106, Minnesota 86.
At Los Angeles, Bryant got the Lakers going in overtime with a pair of free throws and a 14-foot running jumper. His 3-pointer broke a 108-108 tie with 44 seconds to go, and he capped it with a pair of free throws with 17.1 seconds left.
"Kobe Bryant made big shots. He made tough shots," said Zach Randolph, who led Portland with 31 points. "If he would have missed one, it probably would have given us a chance."
Portland's Travis Outlaw, who played less than 8 minutes in the first three quarters and had only one point, scored 10 points during a 3:34 span of the fourth to help Portland grab an 83-79 lead.
Bryant made eight shots from 18 feet or farther during his fourth-quarter surge to keep the Lakers close, including four from 3-point range. Two came 52 seconds apart, slicing Portland's lead to 96-95 with 49 seconds remaining. His last 3-pointer tied it at 98 with 17.2 seconds left.
"Kobe just made MVP-type plays," Portland's Brandon Roy said. "He made every shot down the stretch. We were trying to do things to stop him. It was a great game to play in."
Miami 103, Kings 97
At Miami, Shaquille O'Neal scored 23 points, Eddie Jones and Jason Williams had 19 apiece, and the Heat extended their winning streak to nine.
James Posey added 16 points and 11 rebounds for the defending champion Heat, who've won 14 straight at home and pulled into a tie with Washington for the Southeast Division lead. Miami (36-29) is two percentage points behind the idle Wizards (35-28), who host New Orleans on Saturday.
Ron Artest had his first double-double in more than a month with 32 points and 11 rebounds for Sacramento, which dropped its fifth straight.
76ers 89, Jazz 88
At Philadelphia, Kyle Korver made the winning basket with 5.1 seconds left and Andre Iguodala scored 23 points to lead the 76ers.
Deron Williams finished with 18 points and 16 assists for Utah, which lost its third straight.
Rockets 114, Raptors 100
At Toronto, Rafer Alston scored 23 points, Yao Ming added 23 points and 12 rebounds, and Tracy McGrady had 24 points for Houston, which never trailed.
T.J. Ford had 18 points and eight assists for the Raptors, who lost for the first time in five games.
Clippers 102, Bobcats 93
At Charlotte, N.C., reserve Tim Thomas scored 24 points as Los Angeles rallied to snap a five-game losing streak and improve to 6-0 against the Bobcats.
Raymond Felton had 18 points for the Bobcats, who played without injured starters Sean May (sore right knee), Emeka Okafor (strained calf), Primoz Brezec (sprained left ankle) and Brevin Knight (strained groin).
Hornets 92, Knicks 90
At New York, David West made the go-ahead jumper with 55 seconds remaining to help New Orleans snap a six-game losing streak. West finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds for the Hornets, who erased an 18-point deficit.
Steve Francis had 21 points and 10 assists, but missed a potential winning 3-pointer for the Knicks in the final seconds.
Mavericks 106, Celtics 101
At Dallas, Dirk Nowitzki scored 19 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter, and Josh Howard matched a career high with 30 points to help the Mavericks bounce back from consecutive defeats.
Paul Pierce scored 29 points for the Celtics.
Pistons 105, Suns 83
Ronald Murray scored a season-high 25 points for Detroit, which completed its first 5-0 road sweep through the West in 15 years and snapped Phoenix's six-game winning streak.
Amare Stoudemire had 24 points and 15 rebounds for the Suns.
Warriors 106, Timberwolves 86
At Oakland, Calif., Monta Ellis scored 24 points, and Jason Richardson had 14 points, seven rebounds and eight assists as Golden State maintained its hold on the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Kevin Garnett had 19 points and 13 rebounds for Minnesota.
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His coach gushed about Bryant's 65-point night, as did his teammates — and even some of the Portland Trail Blazers. Still, the Lakers star knew one person would be far from impressed by the high-scoring feat.
"My daughter is outside waiting for me, and I'm sure she doesn't give a damn about what just happened," Bryant said with a grin. "She just wants to watch Care Bears. I'm just happy we won. We needed to get this one."
Bryant scored 24 of his 65 points — the fourth-highest total in franchise history — in the fourth quarter and added nine more in overtime as Los Angeles won 116-111 on Friday night.
"They couldn't keep the ball out of Kobe's hands, and they couldn't keep him from putting that ball in the hoop," Phil Jackson said after his longest losing streak as an NBA head coach ended. "It was remarkable."
Last season's scoring champ shot 23-for-39 from the field, 8-for-12 from 3-point range, and 11-for-12 from the free-throw line. It was the second-highest scoring game of Bryant's career and his third with 60 or more points — including an 81-point outing against Toronto on Jan. 22, 2006, at Staples Center.
"I had to come out aggressive and assert myself, just because our confidence was a little shaky," Bryant said. "We needed a breakout game. And it's my job as a leader to kind of read what we need as a team. And sometimes, me taking over games like this instills confidence in us all."
In other games, it was Miami 103, Sacramento 97; Philadelphia 89, Utah 88; Houston 114, Toronto 100; L.A. Clippers 102, Charlotte 93; New Orleans 92, New York 90; Dallas 106, Boston 101; Detroit 105, Phoenix 83; and Golden State 106, Minnesota 86.
At Los Angeles, Bryant got the Lakers going in overtime with a pair of free throws and a 14-foot running jumper. His 3-pointer broke a 108-108 tie with 44 seconds to go, and he capped it with a pair of free throws with 17.1 seconds left.
"Kobe Bryant made big shots. He made tough shots," said Zach Randolph, who led Portland with 31 points. "If he would have missed one, it probably would have given us a chance."
Portland's Travis Outlaw, who played less than 8 minutes in the first three quarters and had only one point, scored 10 points during a 3:34 span of the fourth to help Portland grab an 83-79 lead.
Bryant made eight shots from 18 feet or farther during his fourth-quarter surge to keep the Lakers close, including four from 3-point range. Two came 52 seconds apart, slicing Portland's lead to 96-95 with 49 seconds remaining. His last 3-pointer tied it at 98 with 17.2 seconds left.
"Kobe just made MVP-type plays," Portland's Brandon Roy said. "He made every shot down the stretch. We were trying to do things to stop him. It was a great game to play in."
Miami 103, Kings 97
At Miami, Shaquille O'Neal scored 23 points, Eddie Jones and Jason Williams had 19 apiece, and the Heat extended their winning streak to nine.
James Posey added 16 points and 11 rebounds for the defending champion Heat, who've won 14 straight at home and pulled into a tie with Washington for the Southeast Division lead. Miami (36-29) is two percentage points behind the idle Wizards (35-28), who host New Orleans on Saturday.
Ron Artest had his first double-double in more than a month with 32 points and 11 rebounds for Sacramento, which dropped its fifth straight.
76ers 89, Jazz 88
At Philadelphia, Kyle Korver made the winning basket with 5.1 seconds left and Andre Iguodala scored 23 points to lead the 76ers.
Deron Williams finished with 18 points and 16 assists for Utah, which lost its third straight.
Rockets 114, Raptors 100
At Toronto, Rafer Alston scored 23 points, Yao Ming added 23 points and 12 rebounds, and Tracy McGrady had 24 points for Houston, which never trailed.
T.J. Ford had 18 points and eight assists for the Raptors, who lost for the first time in five games.
Clippers 102, Bobcats 93
At Charlotte, N.C., reserve Tim Thomas scored 24 points as Los Angeles rallied to snap a five-game losing streak and improve to 6-0 against the Bobcats.
Raymond Felton had 18 points for the Bobcats, who played without injured starters Sean May (sore right knee), Emeka Okafor (strained calf), Primoz Brezec (sprained left ankle) and Brevin Knight (strained groin).
Hornets 92, Knicks 90
At New York, David West made the go-ahead jumper with 55 seconds remaining to help New Orleans snap a six-game losing streak. West finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds for the Hornets, who erased an 18-point deficit.
Steve Francis had 21 points and 10 assists, but missed a potential winning 3-pointer for the Knicks in the final seconds.
Mavericks 106, Celtics 101
At Dallas, Dirk Nowitzki scored 19 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter, and Josh Howard matched a career high with 30 points to help the Mavericks bounce back from consecutive defeats.
Paul Pierce scored 29 points for the Celtics.
Pistons 105, Suns 83
Ronald Murray scored a season-high 25 points for Detroit, which completed its first 5-0 road sweep through the West in 15 years and snapped Phoenix's six-game winning streak.
Amare Stoudemire had 24 points and 15 rebounds for the Suns.
Warriors 106, Timberwolves 86
At Oakland, Calif., Monta Ellis scored 24 points, and Jason Richardson had 14 points, seven rebounds and eight assists as Golden State maintained its hold on the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Kevin Garnett had 19 points and 13 rebounds for Minnesota.