Sun, Jan 08, 2006 - Page 24 News List

Raptors blow out Rockets

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION Mike James had a stellar night against his former team, especially after Houston's Juwan Howard was ejected from the game

AP , TORONTO

Lakers 119, 76ers 93

At Los Angeles, Kobe Bryant returned from a two-game suspension to hit all seven of his 3-point shots and score 48 points, and the Los Angeles Lakers ended a five-game losing streak with a victory over Philadelphia.

Second in the league in scoring behind Philadelphia's Allen Iverson going into the game, Bryant moved a fraction in front after Iverson scored 31 points. Bryant raised his average to 33.166 a game to Iverson's 33.090.

The Lakers' victory kept Phil Jackson from reaching a personal low -- he hasn't lost more than five in a row in his 15 seasons as an NBA coach.

Smush Parker had a career-high 24 points for Los Angeles, and Lamar Odom had a career-high 12 assists to go with eight points and seven rebounds.

Mavericks 114, Nuggets 112

At Denver, Devin Harris made an incredibly easy layup with 2.2 seconds left in overtime to lift Dallas over Denver.

Greg Buckner's desperation shot at the buzzer fell way short and the Nuggets finished their homestand at 2-4.

It was hardly the way anyone would have expected this hard-fought game to end, especially with the way Denver stayed alive -- first on Carmelo Anthony's buzzer-beating 3-pointer in regulation to tie it at 100, then on Kenyon Martin's tip-in off a desperation missed free throw to make it 112-all with 3.6 seconds left in the overtime.

Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry led the Mavs with 27 points apiece.

Kings 118, Clippers 114

At Sacramento, California, Mike Bibby clobbered the Clippers again with 11 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter, and Brad Miller had 26 points and a huge defensive play in the final seconds of Sacramento's 11th straight victory over Los Angeles.

Peja Stojakovic had 19 points and a season-high 13 rebounds, hitting two free throws with 3.4 seconds to play in the last-place Kings' third victory in nine games.

Sam Cassell scored 28 points but missed the potential go-ahead 3-pointer, and Chris Kaman had a career-high 25 points and 13 rebounds in the Clippers' eighth loss in 11 games.

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