|
 Bryant, who announced his retirement Sunday, scored 18 points in the
first half and 12 in the fourth quarter for the Lakers (3-15).
Displaying vintage moves with pull-up and fadeaway jumpers before a
crowd roaring his every move with approval, the 20-year veteran
efficiently scored in the first half while leaving enough energy
left for the fourth quarter.
After the lead switched sides eight times in the fourth quarter,
Bryant drained his fourth 3-pointer for a 101-99 lead. Washington
center Marcin Gortat's layup tied the game on the next possession,
but Bryant put Los Angeles ahead with a long jumper, his fifth
basket of the period.
Guard John Wall had 34 points and 11 assists for the Wizards (7-9).
Gortat had 18 points and 10 rebounds. Guard Jordan Clarkson scored
18 for the Lakers. Forward Julius Randle had 15 points and 19
rebounds.
Warriors 116, Hornets 99
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Stephen Curry erupted for 40 points in his annual
homecoming, scoring the final 24 points of the third quarter, and
Golden State remained perfect with a victory over Charlotte.
The Warriors were in control throughout, racing to a 28-13 lead
midway through the first quarter and building the lead to as many as
26 in the second half.
Curry, who grew up in Charlotte and played collegiately at nearby
Davidson, finished 14 of 18 from the field and eight of 11 from
3-point range. He had just 12 points at halftime, and then exploded
for 28 third-quarter points, including the Warriors' last 24 over
the final 4:55 of the period. He hit four 3-pointers in the final
1:53 of the third. He then sat out the entire fourth quarter with
the game well in hand.
Knicks 99, 76ers 87
NEW YORK -- New York snapped a four-game losing streak, turning back
Philadelphia at Madison Square Garden.
Rookie Kristaps Porzingis registered his ninth double-double,
scoring 17 points and grabbing 10 rebounds for the Knicks. Arron
Afflalo added 13 points and eight rebounds, and Carmelo Anthony
returned after missing one game due to illness, scoring 12 points in
the wire-to-wire win.
Philadelphia, which ended its 18-game losing streak at the start of
the season with a win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, was
without Jahlil Okafor, who was suspended for two games earlier on
Wednesday. Okafor, the third pick in the NBA draft out of Duke, will
also miss Saturday's game against the Denver Nuggets.
Raptors 96, Hawks 86
ATLANTA -- Kyle Lowry shook off flu-like symptoms to score 31 points
and help Toronto overcome a 17-point deficit en route to defeating
Atlanta.
Lowry actually left the court with 4:11 in the first half when he
felt sick to his stomach. He returned in the second half and scored
16 of the team's points during an 18-4 run in the fourth quarter,
when the Raptors went from seven points behind to seven points
ahead. He scored 22 points in the fourth quarter.
Lowry shot 9-for-17 from the field and was 11-for-12 from the line.
He added five rebounds and five assists. DeMar DeRozan added 17
points and guard Cory Joseph added 10 points for the Raptors.
Pistons 127, Suns 122 (OT)
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Reggie Jackson scored 18 of his game-high 34
points after the third quarter to help Detroit rally from a 16-point
deficit in the fourth quarter to earn an overtime win over Phoenix
at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
The Pistons (10-9) trailed 102-86 with 8:25 remaining in the fourth
quarter, but rallied with a 21-2 run to take a 107-104 lead with
1:47 left in the fourth after a layup by Jackson, a guard.
Phoenix answered and took a 112-110 lead with 30.7 seconds left in
the fourth on a 3-pointer by Brandon Knight, but the Pistons tied
the game with 14.3 seconds to go on two free throws by Andre
Drummond, who was fouled at midcourt unintentionally by P.J. Tucker
of the Suns.
[to top of second column] |
Bulls 99, Nuggets 90
CHICAGO -- Pau Gasol had 26 points and 19 rebounds to lead Chicago
to a comeback win over Denver at the United Center.
The Bulls trailed the Nuggets by four points entering the fourth
quarter and outscored them 31-18 in the final 12 minutes. The
Nuggets were ahead 79-77 when the Bulls went on a 12-2 run. Gasol
had six points during the run.
The Bulls won their fourth consecutive home game and improved to 7-1
at the United Center this season. The Cleveland Cavaliers are the
only other team in the Eastern Conference with just one home loss.
Spurs 95, Bucks 70
SAN ANTONIO -- Tim Duncan scored 16 points and pulled down 10
rebounds despite not playing in the fourth quarter as San Antonio
shrugged off some early ragged play and defeated Milwaukee to remain
undefeated at home.
San Antonio substituted liberally beginning in the first two minutes
and kept running fresh players at the young Bucks, whose starting
five combined have the number of years in the league as Duncan, who
is in his 18th year in the NBA.
The Spurs trailed by three points in the game's first two minutes
but reeled off a 14-4 run and never looked back. San Antonio rested
most of its starters the entire fourth quarter but still outscored
the Bucks 19-15 in the period.
Rockets 108, Pelicans 101
HOUSTON -- James Harden posted a double-double, and three Houston
reserves scored in double figures for the first time this season as
Houston clawed out a win over New Orleans at Toyota Center.
Harden finished with 24 points and 10 rebounds while adding six
assists. He didn't hit his first 3-pointer until the 3:15 mark of
the fourth quarter, a huge basket that pushed the Rockets to a 99-92
lead.
Terrence Jones (15 points), Corey Brewer (14) and Ty Lawson (12
points and six assists) delivered off the Houston bench. Trevor
Ariza added 13 points and Patrick Beverley had 10 for Houston.
Pacers 103, Clippers 91
LOS ANGELES -- Paul George scored 31 points and grabbed 10 rebounds,
and Indiana won its sixth in a row with a victory over short-handed
Los Angeles at Staples Center.
Reserve Rodney Stuckey added 18 points, Ian Mahinmi chipped in 14
points and seven rebounds and Jordan Hill contributed 13 points and
eight rebounds for the Pacers, who have captured 12 of 14 after an
0-3 start.
Blake Griffin and reserve Lance Stephenson, the former Pacer, scored
19 points apiece for the Clippers, who had a three-game winning
streak snapped. Jamal Crawford finished with 16 points.
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
