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January 15, 2010

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Ailing Bryant sinks Mavs

AN ailing Kobe Bryant drained a game-winning jump shot with 28 seconds remaining to pull the sliding Los Angeles Lakers to a 100-95 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday.

Plagued by an injured finger on his shooting hand as well as back spasms that forced him off court on Tuesday, Bryant delivered the big shot to break a 95-95 tie and help Los Angeles (30-9) snap a four-game road losing streak.

The Lakers closed the contest with free throws, spoiling the night for Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki, who recorded 30 points in the losing cause to surpass 20,000 points over his career.

Bryant was otherwise quiet, scoring just 10 points and attempted 11 shots as big men Andrew Bynum, who got 22 points and 11 rebounds, and Lamar Odom (18 and 14) carried the load for the defending NBA champions.

"The idea coming into tonight's game (was) just to continue to search for what is going to take for us collectively as a team to play the type of game we need to play," Los Angeles guard Derek Fisher told reporters.

"We played a little more chess tonight because of Kobe's injuries."

Nowitzki also added 16 boards for the Mavericks (25-13), who trailed for much of the game but used an 8-0 run to tie the game with 42 seconds to go.

After Bryant's shot made it 97-95, Dallas center Erick Dampier was fouled and had a chance to tie the game but missed both his free throws. The defeat was the second straight for the Mavericks, who lead the Southwest Division by just one half of a game.

In Denver, Carmelo Anthony scored 27 points to lead the Nuggets 115-97 over the Orlando Magic in a meeting of two divisional leaders.

Chauncey Billups added 24 to help the Nuggets open a 1-1/2 game lead atop the Northwest Division.

Elsewhere in NBA, it was: Spurs 109, Thunder 108, OT; Trail Blazers 120, Bucks 108; Hawks 94, Wizards 82; Pacers 122, Suns 114; Hornets 108, Clippers 94; Rockets 120, Timberwolves 114, 3OT; Heat 115, Warriors 102; Celtics 111, Nets 87; and Knicks 93, 76ers 92.



 

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