NBA roundup: Lakers taste victory thanks to Bryant, rookie Russell

[December 16, 2015]  LOS ANGELES -- Kobe Bryant scored 22 points in three quarters, allowing the Los Angeles Lakers to snap a six-game losing streak by defeating the Milwaukee Bucks 113-95 on Tuesday night at Staples Center.

Rookie D'Angelo Russell came off the bench to score 19 points and record seven assists as seven Lakers reached double figures in scoring. Guard Lou Williams scored 16 points, forward Julius Randle finished with 14 points and 14 rebounds and center Roy Hibbert added 12 points and a season-high 11 rebounds for Los Angeles, which won for only the second time at home this season.

Michael Carter-Williams had 19 points and Khris Middleton chipped in 16 to lead Milwaukee.

Kings 107, Rockets 97

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- DeMarcus Cousins scored 26 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, and point guard Darren Collison made up for the absence of teammate Rajon Rondo with 14 points and 13 assists.

Collison started for only the third time all season and played 41 minutes after Rondo was suspended for one game for hurling gay slurs at referee Bill Kennedy during a game against Boston in Mexico City on Dec. 3.

Omri Casspi scored 19 points and added six assists and the Kings won their third straight to match the longest win streak of the season.

Cavaliers 89, Celtics 77

BOSTON -- With Kyrie Irving almost ready to make his season debut after recovering from a knee injury, LeBron James capped a 12-0 third-quarter run with a reverse slam dunk, and Cleveland defeated Boston.

James, who finished with 24 points, had six during that run and also capped a 10-3 fourth-quarter spurt that made things comfortable for Cleveland.

Guard Avery Bradley led the Celtics with 17 points, while forward Jae Crowder, who played strong defense on James much of the night, added 14. Guard Isaiah Thomas shot 3-for-15 from the floor en route to 12 points.

Nuggets 112, Timberwolves 100

MINNEAPOLIS -- Kenneth Faried had 19 points and 10 rebounds and reserve Randy Foye added 19 points off the bench as Denver took down Minnesota.

Six Nuggets scored in double-figures. Danilo Gallinari had 14 points, while Will Barton chipped in 14.

Andrew Wiggins led Minnesota with 23 points on nine-of-17 shooting. Guard Zach LaVine added 20 points and five assists off the bench in the loss.

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