Bryant reaches 23,000 in win over Thunder

[February 11, 2009]  LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Kobe Bryant showed no lingering effects from the flu, scoring 34 points and becoming the youngest player in NBA history to reach 23,000 in the Los Angeles Lakers' 105-98 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night.

Pau Gasol had 22 points and 14 rebounds, and Lamar Odom had 12 points and a season-high 18 boards for the Lakers, just back from a 6-0 trip they concluded with wins against Boston and Cleveland.

Bryant had chills and fever and needed intravenous fluids at halftime of Sunday's game against the Cavaliers.

Although Los Angeles has the league's best record and Oklahoma City one of the worst, the Thunder stayed close most of the game, but they trailed the entire second half.

Kevin Durant finished with 31 points, his fifth 30-point game in a row, and 10 rebounds in the loss. Russell Westbrook had 17 points and nine rebounds.

With fans chanting "MVP," Bryant made a free throw with 5:13 left in the second quarter to become the youngest player in NBA history with 23,000 points at 30 years, 171 days old. He bounced the first of two free throws off the front of the rim, the backboard and in for his 14th point of the game. He joined 20 others in league history who've reached the mark.

Wilt Chamberlain was formerly the youngest at 30 years, 176 days. He still ranks as the fastest to 23,000, reaching it in 606 games, while Bryant, who came straight from high school to the NBA, reached it in his 917th game.

Los Angeles held a 13-point lead at halftime, but the Thunder cut the deficit to 80-73 by the end of the third quarter.

Bryant and Odom combined on several spectacular plays. Down by two with 4 seconds left in the first quarter, the Lakers drew even as Bryant grabbed Odom's length-of-the-court pass just over the outstretched hands of a defender and dunked to tie it at 25. In the second quarter, Bryant threaded a pass to Odom as he split defenders down the lane and Odom seemed to catch the ball, go up and dunk all in the same motion.

Even Lakers coach Phil Jackson smiled at that play.

The ailing Bryant scored 19 in Sunday's 101-91 victory at Cleveland that was the Cavaliers' first home loss of the season. Odom took up the slack, scoring a season-high 28.

Against the Thunder, Bryant scored 22 in the first half to help the Lakers to a 60-47 lead. Odom had eight points and 11 rebounds at the break. Durant had 10 points, the only Oklahoma City player in double figures.

Notes: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar holds the NBA career scoring record with 38,387 points. ... Jackson said before the game that Oklahoma City was essentially a team in disarray back when the Lakers beat them 105-94 in a preseason meeting, but they've changed: "What you have is a young, athletic team that's learning how to play together, found a rotation they've gotten comfortable with, and a new coach. Defensively, they've still got a lot to learn." The Thunder were 10-9 coming into the game, quite an improvement over their 3-29 start.

[Associated Press; By KEN PETERS]

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