DPA ©
Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant
game-sealing triple with 1:40 left in his final game in Boston, and
the LA Lakers snapped the Celtics' four-game winning streak, 112-104
on Wednesday.
Bryant already announced his plans to retire after this season - his
20th - all with the Lakers.
Jordan Clarkson scored 24 points, Lou Williams had 19 and
fellow-reserve Julius Randle added 15 with 12 rebounds for the lowly
Lakers (6-27) who ended their four-game slide.
The struggling Lakers built a 14-point third quarter cushion but
couldn't sustain. Instead, the Celtics charged to within 104-102 on
an Avery Bradley layup with 1:58 left.
Bryant, who it just 5-of-18 field goals, then stepped up and buried
his straight-away triple for a five-point lead that effectively
sealed the victory.
Isaiah Thomas led Boston (18-14) with 24 points while reserve Evan
Turner added 20 with eight assists.
Elsewhere: Dallas Mavericks 114, Golden State Warriors 91: The mighty
Warriors didn't have league top scorer Stephen Curry and had no
chance
J.J. Barea scored 23 points, Zaza Pachulia had 14 with 16 rebounds
and the host Mavs (19-13) sent the league-best Warriors (29-12) to
their second loss of the season, as Curry sat out because of a lower
left leg bruise.
- LA Clippers J.J. Redick fired in 26 points, Austin Rivers added a
season-best 22 and the visiting Clippers (20-13) - minus their top
scorer Blake Griffin because of a torn left quadriceps muscle - held
off the Hornets for their fourth consecutive victory.
Kemba Walker scored 29 points for the Hornets (17-14), who will be
without centre Al Jefferson for at least six weeks following
arthroscopic right knee surgery.
- Chicago Bulls 102, Indiana Pacers 100 (OT) Jimmy Butler tipped in
Pau Gasol's lob pass with 1.2 seconds left in overtime and deflected
one intended for Paul George on the final play of the game, lifting
the Bulls (18-12) over the visiting Pacers (18-13).
Aaron Brooks had 29 points while Butler added 28 as the Bulls (18-12)
won for the third time in four games despite guard Derrick Rose being
scratched with right hamstring tendinitis.
- Minnesota Timberwolves 94, Utah Jazz 80: Karl-Anthony Towns had 25
points with 10 rebounds, Spaniard Ricky Rubio dished out a
career-high-tying 17 assists, leading the T-Wolves (12-20) over the
visiting Jazz (13-17).
- San Antonio Spurs 112, Phoenix Suns 79: LaMarcus Aldridge had 21
points with 12 rebounds, and the Spurs (28-6) ran their
franchise-home record streak to 28, including 19-0 to start the
season after sending the Suns (12-21) to their sixth straight loss.
- Philadelphia 76ers 110, Sacramento Kings 105: Nerlens Noel scored a
season-high 20 points, recently-acquired Ish Smith added five of his
18 down the stretch, and the league-worst Sixers (3-31) improved to
2-19 on the road after trimming the Kings (12-20).
In other games: the Orlando Magic rallied past the visiting Brooklyn
Nets 100-93; the Toronto Raptors held off the visiting Washington
Wizards 94-91; and the Portland Trail Blazers bounced the visiting
Denver Nuggets 110-103.