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Bryant plays through pain as Lakers hold off Cavs
(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-01-21 14:27

LOS ANGELES -- Kobe Bryant shrugged off a dislocated finger to help the Los Angeles Lakers to a thrilling 105-88 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in a titanic battle between the top two teams in the West and the East on Monday.


Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant (R) goes up to shoot against Cleveland Cavaliers Anderson Varejao of Brazil during their NBA basketball game in Los Angeles January 19, 2009.  [Agencies]
Bryant, last season's league MVP, registered 20 points, six rebounds and 12 assists as the Western Conference champions held off a late flurry by Cleveland to stretch their win-loss record to 32-8.

LeBron James and the Cavaliers delivered 11 unanswered points late in the fourth quarter, but Trevor Ariza countered with a pair of three-pointers off the bench to regain control.

Spanish forward Pau Gasol contributed 22 points and 12 rebounds while Andrew Bynum weighed in with 14 points to keep the Lakers on track for their first NBA title since 2001-02.

Four-time all-star James delivered a game-high 23 points, along with nine rebounds and four assists, for the Cavaliers who had beaten the Lakers in their previous five meetings.

"That might have been the worst pain I've ever played with," Bryant said of his right ring finger, which he dislocated early in the first quarter before having it popped back.

"It was really painful, man, and I'm glad we got through this one.

"It was a big game for us from the standpoint that we wanted to match their physicality," the all-star guard told reporters after the Lakers extended their home record this season to 21-3.


Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant (R) drives on Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James during the first half of their NBA basketball game in Los Angeles January 19, 2009. [Agencies]
"They play hard and they play tough, and that was one of our weaknesses coming into the season. It was something we needed to work on, so this was a good test for us."

Asked whether he was considering surgery on his finger, Bryant replied: "No. I played the second half with it and I'll play the rest of the season with it. It's painful and my shots are going to struggle a little bit until I get used to it."

Hornets 103, Pacers 100

At New Orleans, Chris Paul capped a 27-point performance with an off-balance 3-pointer as time expired, lifting the New Orleans Hornets to a 103-100 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Monday.

Peja Stojakovic hit five 3-pointers and finished with a season-high 26 points for New Orleans. The Hornets started the game without David West (back) and lost center Tyson Chandler (left ankle) late in the second quarter.

Indiana's Danny Granger scored 30 points, including a tying 3 with 2.5 seconds left, after which he pounded his chest with his right fist. Moments later, he was slumped over, head hanging, as the Hornets mobbed Paul following his winning shot.

Pistons 87, Grizzlies 79

At Memphis, Tennessee, Allen Iverson scored 27 points to help Detroit beat Memphis and end its longest losing streak in five seasons.

Rasheed Wallace scored 11 of his 13 points in the second half to help bring Detroit's five-game skid to an end.

The Grizzlies lost their sixth straight and for the 14th time in 16 games.

Memphis missed 10 of its final 12 attempts. In the fourth quarter, the Grizzlies were 4-of-20 and didn't make a shot in the game's final 2:55.

O.J. Mayo and Rudy Gay led the Grizzlies with 15 points apiece.

Celtics 104, Suns 87

At Boston, Rajon Rondo scored 23 points in the first three quarters, and Ray Allen scored 20 before sitting out the fourth.

Kevin Garnett had 16 points with eight rebounds, and Paul Pierce had 12 points with eight rebounds and eight assists to help Boston take a 64-34 halftime lead. The Celtics have won five straight since a 2-7 slump that was the worst stretch of the new Big Three era.

Shaquille O'Neal scored 16 with 11 rebounds for Phoenix, which had won seven of its last 10. Amare Stoudemire, the Suns' leading scorer, had just three points on 0-for-7 shooting.

Mavericks 95, 76ers 93

At Philadelphia, Dirk Nowitzki hit a turnaround 17-foot jump shot at the buzzer and finished with 24 points to help Dallas snap Philadelphia's season-high seven-game winning streak.

Jason Kidd had 22 points and 12 rebounds, Jason Terry added 20 and Josh Howard had 10 for the Mavericks (24-17).

Lou Williams scored 25 points, while Andre Iguodala had 18 points and 12 rebounds for the 76ers (20-21), who are trying to climb above .500 for the first time since Nov 23 when they were 7-6.

Rockets 115, Nuggets 113

At Houston, Yao Ming scored 31 points and Rafer Alston added 18 points and 11 assists as Houston edged Denver.

Denver's Kenyon Martin missed two foul shots with 2.6 seconds left, and Yao rebounded to clinch the win.

Von Wafer had 18 and Luis Scola 16 for the Rockets, who have won five of their last six games and four of five since Ron Artest and Tracy McGrady were shelved to recover from nagging injuries.

J.R. Smith scored 24, Nene had 23 and Martin had 22 for the Nuggets.

Agencies