Lakers roll by Thunder
Kobe Bryant had 21 points, 14 assists and nine rebounds, Steve Nash added seven of his 17 points in the final 51⁄2 minutes, and the Lakers held off the NBA-leading Oklahoma City Thunder, 105-96, yesterday in Los Angeles.
Pau Gasol scored 16 points in a reserve role as the Lakers picked up the most impressive victory of their thoroughly unimpressive season, coolly maintaining a small lead down the stretch of their second straight win after a four-game skid.
Los Angeles had lost nine of its last 11 against the powerful Thunder, including four of five in the clubs’ second-round playoff series last spring.
Kevin Durant scored 35 points and Russell Westbrook had 17 points, 13 assists and nine rebounds for the road-weary Thunder, who finished their longest trip of the season at 3-3.
Bryant and Westbrook briefly tangled in the third quarter in an exchange that earned a technical foul for Kobe. Both All-Star guards entered the fourth quarter needing just one rebound for a triple-double, but neither got it.
Knicks 106, Hawks 104 — Carmelo Anthony tied a franchise record with nine 3-pointers, then converted a go-ahead, three-point play with 12.5 seconds left to cap a 42-point night and lead host New York over Atlanta.
The Hawks shot a season-high 60 percent from the field but had their three-game winning streak snapped when Josh Smith, burned on Anthony’s basket, missed a 3-pointer on Atlanta’s final possession.
Amare Stoudemire and J.R. Smith each had 18 points for the Knicks, who were 16-of-27 from 3-point range. Jeff Teague scored 27 points for the Hawks, while Smith added 20.
Pistons 104, Magic 102 — Brandon Knight had a career-high 31 points, including five 3-pointers, and Greg Monroe scored 17 points as Detroit ended a two-game losing streak with a win in Orlando, Fla.
Orlando’s J.J. Redick tied a career high with 31 points and set a career high with eight 3-pointers, but the Magic still lost their fifth straight, and now 10 of 11 at home.
Mavericks 110, Suns 95 — Shawn Marion scored 18 points in his 1,000th game, Dirk Nowitzki also had 18 while passing Allen Iverson on the career scoring list as host Dallas beat Phoenix.
Goran Dragic led four Suns in double figures with 18 points.
Hornets 91, Grizzlies 83 — Ryan Anderson scored 22 points, connecting on seven 3-pointers, and New Orleans won at Memphis.
Clippers 96, Blazers 83 — Blake Griffin had 23 points and nine assists and host Los Angeles ended a four-game skid by beating Portland.
The Clippers have the third-best record in the NBA at 33-13.