Kobe Bryant scored 19 points before sitting out the fourth quarter as the Los Angeles Lakers cruised to a 107-89 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA on Tuesday.
The Lakers led from start to finish for the ninth time this season and closed within one game of idle Cleveland for the best record in the NBA.
Lamar Odom scored 18 points before fouling out and Pau Gasol had 14 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists for Los Angeles. All of the Lakers starters spent the final eight minutes on the bench, getting some needed rest two games into a seven-game road trip.
PHOTO: AP
Kevin Durant scored 24 points to lead Oklahoma City, which had all five starters reach double figures.
BULLS 99, PISTONS 91
At Chicago, Kirk Hinrich scored 24 points filling in for the injured Derrick Rose as Chicago pulled within a game of the seventh-place Detroit in the Eastern Conference.
PHOTO: EPA
Tyrus Thomas had 18 points and 12 rebounds, and Joakim Noah scored 15 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the Bulls earned their fifth win in six games.
Tayshaun Prince and Will Bynum scored 20 each for the Pistons, who clearly miss injured stars Allen Iverson, Rasheed Wallace and Richard Hamilton. Bynum also had nine assists while Antonio McDyess scored 16 for Detroit, which lost five of six.
SPURS 107, WARRIORS 106
At San Antonio, Tony Parker scored 30 points as San Antonio edged Golden State.
Roger Mason scored 24 and sank the go-ahead jumper with 23.8 seconds left as the Spurs dodged a rare three-game skid after last-minute losses against Boston and Houston last week.
Monta Ellis had two chances to win it for Golden State but missed a jumper with 5.9 seconds left, then watched his running 3-pointer as time expired clank off the front of the rim.
Ellis led the Warriors with 27 points and Stephen Jackson had 18.
JAZZ 99, ROCKETS 86
At Salt Lake City, Ronnie Brewer scored 12 of his 17 points in the second half as Utah ended Houston’s four-game winning streak.
The Jazz pulled within one-half game of Denver for the Northwest Division lead and knocked the Rockets back to second in the Southwest.
Deron Williams had 19 points and 12 assists for the Jazz, who blocked a season-high 12 shots to help compensate for a poor night on the boards, getting outrebounded 52-42.
Aaron Brooks scored 20 points and Chinese star Yao Ming added 14 points and 13 rebounds for the Rockets.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
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