Bryant Leads Lakers As They Rally, 98-95, Past Sacramento
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kobe Bryant scored nine of his 32 points in the final 3:14, leading the Los Angeles Lakers' fourth-quarter comeback for a 98-95 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night.
Carlos Boozer added 15 points for the Lakers, who snapped their three-game skid by rallying from a 12-point deficit in the second half.
After Bryant tied it at 92 with a breakaway dunk and a clutch 3-pointer, Jordan Hill's layup on a sharp pass from Bryant put the Lakers ahead 94-93 with 1:39 to play.
The Kings went back in front on a driving layup by Darren Collison, but Bryant hit two free throws for the lead with 34 seconds left before Rudy Gay missed an open 3-pointer for Sacramento, which has lost six of eight.
After Bryant added two final free throws, Nick Stauskas missed a potential tying three-point shot in the waning seconds for the Kings, who went scoreless in a 4 1/2-minute stretch.
Collison scored 26 points and Gay had 23 in the Kings' seventh straight game without leading scorer and rebounder DeMarcus Cousins, who is out another week with viral meningitis.
Nick Young had 12 points for the Lakers. They have won just three of 12 home games this season, but have won 12 of their last 13 at Staples Center against Sacramento.
Ben McLemore exceeded his season average with 13 points in the first half alone, pacing the Kings to a 55-46 lead. Bryant missed nine of his 13 shots in the first half.
The Kings took their biggest lead early in the third quarter before Bryant and Young keyed an 18-6 run to keep the Lakers in it.
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