Struggling Bryant Still Leads Lakers Over Mavs
DALLAS (AP) - Kobe Bryant overcame a sore ankle to score 16 points, helping the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Dallas Mavericks 96-91 on Saturday night.
Bryant shot just 6 of 20, yet scored six points and assisted on the other basket in a 9-0 run late in the second quarter that snapped a tie and put the Lakers ahead to stay in the matchup of Western Conference powers -- and a potential playoff preview.
After Bryant came down awkwardly on his left ankle late in the third quarter and left the game for a bit, the Lakers immediately scored eight consecutive points to stretch the lead to 10.
Phil Jackson got his 600th victory with the Lakers, becoming only the fifth coach in NBA history to reach that mark with one franchise.
The Mavericks (47-19) are only a half-game ahead of Los Angeles (47-20) for second place in the Western Conference. But if the Lakers win the Pacific Division, as expected, they would get the higher seed in the playoffs if the two teams finish the regular season with the same record. They have split their first two games, and play again one more time.
Andrew Bynum led the Lakers with 22 points and 15 rebounds, while Pau Gasol had 18 points and Ron Artest 12.
Dirk Nowitzki and Shawn Marion had 25 points apiece for Dallas while both posting double-doubles. Marion had 12 rebounds and Nowitzki 10 boards.
Dallas was within 91-89 after a miss by Bryant led to a fast-break slam by Marion with 25 seconds left. Gasol was immediately fouled after that and made the second free throw.
But Jason Kidd missed an inside shot with 11 seconds left, and Bynum made two free throws.
Los Angeles was coming off a loss Thursday night in Miami where Bryant made his first four shots, then was 4 for 17 the rest of the way. Bryant returned to the court after the game had ended, taking hundreds of shots over more than an hour and finishing after midnight.
Bryant made only one of his first five shots Saturday before his basket with 4:34 left in the first half that snapped a 37-all tie. Corey Brewer then missed a 3-pointer and fouled Bryant, who made two free throws and then had two steals during a stretch when the Mavs had turnovers on four consecutive possessions.
After making a tough turnaround jumper, Bryant went down the court smiling and holding his arms out wide in disbelief that a foul wasn't called on the play against Rodrigue Beaubois.
Bryant was then whistled for a foul, but stole the ball from Beaubois and had the assist on Artest's 3-pointer that made it 46-37.
Late in the third quarter, Bryant came down awkwardly on his left ankle after having a shot blocked by Marion. While Kidd converted the turnover into a layup that got Dallas within 65-63, Bryant remained on the floor.
When Bryant got up, he limped a few steps and called timeout. He came off the floor and went to the locker room for a few minutes before coming back to the bench and back in the game midway through the fourth quarter.
Steve Blake hit two 3-pointers right after Bryant left and the Lakers pushed the lead back to 73-63.
(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
