Kobe Drops 50 to Carry Lakers Past Mavs

[March 03, 2008]  LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Kobe Bryant scored 30 of his 52 points in the fourth quarter and overtime Sunday to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 108-104 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.

Bryant hit the 50-point mark for the 22nd time in his career and first time this season. He went 15-of-27 from the floor and, constantly driving and drawing fouls, was 20-of-27 from the line.

Bryant also had 11 rebounds and four assists. Pau Gasol added 17 points and 14 rebounds for the Lakers, who are 12-2 since he played his first game for them on Feb. 5.

Dirk Nowitzki had 30 points for Dallas, including a 3-pointer with 2 seconds remaining in regulation to tie it at 93. He had nine points in the extra period but missed a 3-point try that would have tied it again with 7 seconds remaining.

Jason Kidd, playing his seventh game for Dallas, had 15 points, 11 assists and six rebounds. He pulled the Mavericks within 105-104 and was fouled on the play with 11 seconds left in overtime. He then missed the only free throw he took in the game.

The Mavericks are 4-3 since Kidd joined them.

Bryant scored the Lakers' final 14 points in the fourth quarter, including a pair of free throws with 6 seconds left after getting the offensive rebound of Lamar Odom's second straight missed foul shot.

Erick Dampier had 16 points and 17 rebounds for Dallas when he fouled out with 1:19 left in regulation. The Lakers' Luke Walton fouled out with 7:11 remaining in the fourth quarter, going to the bench with 11 points and six rebounds.

Jason Terry finished with 18 points for Dallas. Josh Howard had 11 points.

The Lakers got back into the win column after having their 10-game winning streak ended in Portland on Friday night.

Kidd hit a 19-footer, had a steal and made a 3-pointer to give the Mavericks a 59-58 lead with 6:39 left in the third quarter, their first time in front since midway through the opening period.

Dampier had nine points in the third and the Mavericks were up 68-65 heading into the final 12 minutes. The Lakers scored just 15 points and went 6-of-22 from the floor in the third, with Odom missing all five of his shots.

Bryant scored 10 in the second quarter to help Los Angeles to a 50-47 halftime lead. Gasol had 12 first-half points, but just two in the second quarter.

The Lakers led 47-35 with 4:22 left in the half, but a couple of 3-pointers by Terry and another by Nowitzki helped them close the gap.

Kidd got off to a quick start, hitting a 3 for the first points of the game, assisting on Howard's 18-foot jumper the next time down the floor, then looping a pass to Dampier for a dunk -- all in the first 39 seconds to give Dallas a 7-0 lead. Los Angeles led 29-23 at the end of the first quarter.

Notes: The Mavericks beat the Lakers 112-105 in Dallas on Jan. 25, despite 40 points, 10 rebounds and five assists by Bryant. Gasol joined the Lakers about a week later.

[Associated Press; By KEN PETERS]

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