Kobe Bryant scored 34 points and Andrew Bynum added 26 points and 10 rebounds to lift Los Angeles Lakers to a 105-102 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday.
Bynum dominated the smaller Wolves down low and Bryant made four free throws in the final 16 seconds for the Lakers, who beat the Timberwolves for the 18th straight time.
Derrick Williams had 22 points and 10 rebounds and Nikola Pekovic had 25 points and 13 boards for the Wolves, who found out less than 30 minutes before the game that leading scorer and rebounder Kevin Love could not play because of back spasms.
CELTICS 104, TRAIL BLAZERS 86
In Boston, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen each scored 22 points as Boston rebounded from a lopsided loss and handed one to Portland.
The win came after Boston lost by 32 points at Atlantic Division-leading Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday, their worst setback in more than six years.
Kevin Garnett grabbed seven defensive rebounds to move into second place on the NBA’s career list with defensive rebounds since the league started keeping the stat in 1973-1974. He has 10,122 and moved ahead of Robert Parish (10,117). Karl Malone holds the top spot with 11,406.
LaMarcus Aldridge led the Trail Blazers with 22 points.
CAVALIERS 96, THUNDER 90
In Oklahoma City, Antawn Jamison scored 21 points and Kyrie Irving orchestrated a decisive run in the final three minutes as Cleveland snapped Oklahoma City’s 14-game home winning streak.
The Cavaliers scored their first consecutive road wins of the season by turning the normally fast-breaking Thunder into a half-court team. Oklahoma City converted only three transition baskets until trying to make a dramatic comeback in the final minute.
Kevin Durant tried to lead Oklahoma City back, but missed on a pair of three-point attempts. He finished with 23 points and Russell Westbrook scored 19 for the Thunder.
PISTONS 86, HAWKS 85
In Auburn Hills, Michigan, Tayshaun Prince made a driving left-handed shot with 24.3 seconds remaining as Detroit held on to beat Atlanta.
The Pistons wasted a 12-point fourth-quarter lead and trailed by one after Jeff Teague’s layup with 36.6 seconds to play, but Prince answered and Atlanta’s Joe Johnson missed a contested shot from the left corner in the final seconds.
Greg Monroe scored 20 points and Jason Maxiell added 19 for Detroit. Josh Smith led the Hawks with 21 and Johnson scored 18 in his first game back after missing four with left knee tendinitis.
76ERS 104, JAZZ 91
In Philadelphia, Lou Williams and Thaddeus Young scored 21 points each, lifting Philadelphia past Utah.
Evan Turner had 16 points and 12 rebounds, Jrue Holiday also scored 16 points and Andre Iguodala added 10 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds for the Sixers, who followed Wednesday’s 32-point victory over the Boston Celtics with another impressive performance.
Paul Millsap had 15 points to lead the Jazz, while Derrick Favors and Al Jefferson added 14 each. Gordon Hayward had 13 and Devin Harris 10 as Utah snapped a two-game winning streak.
BUCKS 119, KNICKS 114
In Milwaukee, Ersan Ilyasova scored 26 points, including a critical putback in the final minute, as Milwaukee held on to beat New York.
Brandon Jennings and Mike Dunleavy added 25 points each for the Bucks, who were coming off a last-second loss at home to Chicago on Wednesday.
Amar’e Stoudemire had 27 points and 11 rebounds for the Knicks, who have lost four straight and seven of their past 10. Carmelo Anthony had 22 points, while Jeremy Lin had 20 points and 13 assists, with four steals and five turnovers.
In other NBA action, it was:
‧ Nets 83, Bobcats 74
‧ Clippers 120, Spurs 108
‧ Nuggets 110, Hornets 97
‧ Kings 110, Mavericks 97
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