Monday, March 31, 2008
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Lakers Beat Wizards to End 2-Game Skid

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[March 31, 2008]  LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Kobe Bryant scored six of his 26 points in overtime, and the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Washington Wizards 126-120 Sunday night to snap a two-game losing skid.

Sasha Vujacic scored 20 points, Luke Walton added 19, Vladimir Radmanovic 18 and Lamar Odom had 10 points and 13 rebounds as the Lakers notched their 50th victory for the 29th time in franchise history.

Rookie Nick Young led the Wizards with a career-high 27 points and DeShawn Stevenson matched him. Caron Butler had 17 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists, and Antawn Jamison added 17.

Trailing by a point with a minute left in overtime, the Lakers went to Bryant, who two days ago scored 53 in a 114-111 loss to Memphis.

He hit three consecutive free throws to put them ahead for good. The Wizards were scoreless over the final 1:18.

Against the Grizzlies, Bryant had 34 at halftime; this time he had five at the break. He took 37 of the Lakers' 104 shots against the Grizzlies; he had 24 of their 87 Sunday. He had one assist Friday and 13 Sunday.

The Wizards outscored the Lakers 7-3 to open overtime, capped by Stevenson's fastbreak driving reverse layup for a 118-114 lead.

Derek Fisher hit a 3-pointer to draw the Lakers within one. Butler missed, grabbed the rebound and fed Young on the wing, who scored for a 120-117 lead.

Fisher stepped away from a flying Young in the right corner and scored, again drawing the Lakers within one with 1:02 left. Pressured on a drive under the basket that went nowhere, Young passed the ball out of bounds. Stevenson fouled Bryant, who made both, giving the Lakers their first lead, 121-120, since early in overtime.

Young missed a jumper with 18 seconds left and Jamison was forced to foul Bryant, who made the first accompanied by "MVP!" chants. He missed the second, but Vujacic grabbed the rebound, got fouled and made both with 10 seconds left.

Butler missed a 3-pointer with 5 seconds to go and Walton's fastbreak dunk ended the game.

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The Wizards outscored the Lakers 13-4 to pull into a tie at 105 when Butler sandwiched a 3-pointer around two by Young with 2:46 remaining.

Bryant's fastbreak driving dunk and Luke Walton's layup restored the Lakers' lead to 109-105 before Young hit a 3-pointer to get the Wizards within one.

Bryant was fouled by Stevenson while shooting and sank both for a 111-108 lead with 33 seconds to go. After a timeout, Butler's 3-pointer from left of the key tied the game at 111 with 10 seconds left.

Bryant dribbled the ball the length of the court before dishing to Fisher, who missed the potential winning 3-pointer from the right corner as regulation expired.

Notes: Wizards starting guard Antonio Daniels sprained his left wrist after playing four minutes and did not return. ... Lakers C Pau Gasol missed his ninth game because of a sprained left ankle. He scrimmaged briefly Saturday and worked out Sunday. "He couldn't push off, take the kinds of shots he wanted to take, but he was out there and it was good," Jackson said about the scrimmage. "He was no worse for wear because of it." ... The Wizards are 8-10 in the first game of back-to-back sets. They visit Utah on Monday night. ... Los Angeles Galaxy star David Beckham sat courtside, with his personal security guard stationed nearby.

[Associated Press; By BETH HARRIS]

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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