Lakers Beat Nets 99-92
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) Kobe Bryant scored 25 of his 32 points in the second half and had two big assists in a late eight-point run that led the Los Angeles Lakers to a 99-92 victory over the New Jersey Nets on Sunday.
Lamar Odom had five of his 22 points in the late spurt and Pau Gasol had the other three in capping a 15-point, 11-rebound effort that led the Lakers to their sixth straight win over New Jersey.
Brook Lopez had 25 points and nine rebounds for the Nets, who have lost seven straight and 9 of 11. Devin Harris added 16 points and 10 assists.
Gasol broke an 87-all tie, hitting the second of two free throws with 2:28 to play.
After Harris missed a drive, Bryant took advantage of the Nets' double-teaming him and made them pay with his playmaking. He hit Gasol coming down the middle of the lane for a layup and a 90-87 lead with 1:48 to play.
Harris again failed to capitalize inside on the other end of the court and Bryant made a short cross-court pass to Odom for another layup and a 92-87 lead with 1:02 left.
Odom closed out the run with a 3-pointer from the top of the key off a nice pass by Derek Fisher.
New Jersey never got close again.
The Lakers led most of the game but the Nets closed the gap to two points at the end of the third quarter. They eventually took the lead at 78-77 on two free throws by Lopez with 4:45 to play.
Neither team led by more than three points until the very end with Harris forging the last tie at 87 with a floater in the lane with 2:56 to go.
NOTES: Nets rookie forward Damion James is going to be sidelined with a broken right foot. He will have surgery on Monday. ... The NBA champion Lakers will meet with President Obama in Washington on Monday, a day before they play the Wizards. ... The crowd included former Lakers great Magic Johnson and Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard.
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