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NBA: Bryant scores 48 as Lakers defeat Seattle in overtime

Kobe Bryant scored a season-high 48 points as the Los Angeles Lakers beat Seattle 123-121 in overtime on Monday, extending their winning streak to seven games.

It was the Lakers' first game without center Andrew Bynum, who will be out for a minimum of eight weeks after MRI tests revealed a bone bruise in his left knee.

In the overtime, Kurt Thomas' jumper gave Seattle a slim 121-117 edge with just over three minutes remaining.

But Bryant stepped up to score the next two baskets, including a 14-footer to tie the game at the 1:39 mark.

Kevin Durant had a chance to put the SuperSonics on top but misfired on a pull-up jumper with 26 seconds left, leaving enough time for Bryant to make another big shot.

The reigning two-time scoring champion drove the left side against rookie Jeff Green before drilling the eventual game-winning step-back jumper.

Seattle had one last chance to force another overtime, but Nick Collison's jumper came up short from the right corner as the horn sounded.

Wizards 88, Celtics 83

In Boston, Caron Butler scored 21 as Washington beat Boston 88-83 on Monday night for the Wizards' second victory over the Celtics in three days.

Antawn Jamison added 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Wizards, who handed Boston its first two-game losing streak of the season.

Butler scored nine points during a 25-6 run over the final 6:24 of the fourth quarter to give the Wizards their fifth win in the last six games against Boston.

Boston also lost consecutive games at home for the first time all season and dropped to 30-6. The Celtics are 2-3 over their last five and have averaged 85 points a game over that span.

Eddie House scored his only five points of the game to give the Celtics their largest lead at 77-63 with 6:24 remaining before the Wizards rallied.

Trailing by 14, the Wizards went on a 19-4 run to take an 82-81 lead with 40.1 seconds remaining, capped off by Butler's 3-point play.

Kevin Garnett failed on a 3-pointer, but Paul Pierce was fouled on the rebound and sank both free throws to regain the lead for Boston at 83-82.

Butler then responded with a high-arcing lay-up as he beat Pierce off the dribble with 19.6 seconds remaining.

Garnett failed on another chance to regain the lead for Boston when his turnaround jumper clanked off the back rim.

Butler got the rebound and hit a pair of free throws for an 86-83 lead with 8.3 seconds remaining.

Garnett led the Celtics with 23 points and Pierce added 18.

Trail Blazers 99, Nets 73

At East Rutherford, New Jersey, LaMarcus Aldridge scored 20 points to lead Portland to its 18th win in the last 20 games.

Portland never trailed and got contributions from up and down the lineup. Brandon Roy scored 16 points, Jarrett Jack had 15, Travis Outlaw 13 and James Jones 10.

Reserve Malik Allen led the Nets with 17. Vince Carter and Jason Kidd each had 10 points.

Spurs 89, 76ers 82

At San Antonio, Manu Ginobili scored 14 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter for the Spurs.

Tim Duncan added 18 points and 16 rebounds and Michael Finley and Tony Parker scored 14 points apiece to give San Antonio its second straight win.

Willie Green led Philadelphia with 21 points and Andre Iguodala scored 19. Samuel Dalembert added 12 points and 20 rebounds for the skidding 76ers, who have lost seven straight.

Jazz 98, Bucks 87

At Salt Lake City, Deron Williams scored 24 of his 33 points in the second half and had 10 assists as Utah rallied to beat Milwaukee.

The Jazz held the Bucks without a field goal for the first 7:25 of the fourth quarter while pulling away for their fourth straight win, Utah's longest streak since November.

Carlos Boozer added 21 points and 10 rebounds and Paul Millsap scored 11 for the Jazz. Mo Williams added 21 points for the Bucks, who went 0-3 on a Western Conference road trip.

Bobcats 119, Nuggets 116

At Charlotte, North Carolina, Gerald Wallace scored 40 points, Matt Carroll hit two free throws with 4.6 seconds left, and the Bobcats made the big plays down the stretch to beat Denver.

After consecutive heartbreaking losses, in double overtime to Cleveland and in overtime to Detroit, Wallace carried Charlotte in a fast-paced game with numerous dunks and little defense.

Carmelo Anthony had 35 points for Denver. Allen Iverson added 23 points and Marcus Camby had 20 points and 23 rebounds for the Nuggets, who lost for the second time in six games.

Wallace was two points shy of matching his career high. Carroll added 19 points and Emeka Okafor had 19 points and 13 rebounds for Charlotte.
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