Kobe Bryant hit a baseline jump shot with 4.2 seconds left as the Los Angeles Lakers wrapped up a six-game road trip by holding on to beat the Raptors 94-92 on Sunday, their eighth victory in nine meetings with Toronto.
Bryant, who scored 27 points, took an inbound pass from Metta World Peace and shot over the outstretched arms of James Johnson to deny the Raptors, who battled back after trailing by as many as 18.
Bryant made one of two from the line to put the Lakers up by two with 3.7 seconds left. Jose Calderon, who scored a career-high 30 points, inbounded to DeMar DeRozan for the final possession, but he airballed his potential tying shot at the buzzer.
Photo: Reuters
CELTICS 95, BULLS 91
In Boston, Rajon Rondo recorded a triple-double with 32 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds to lead Boston over Chicago, who were without their star guard Derrick Rose.
Kevin Garnett added 13 points and 12 rebounds, reserve JaJuan Johnson had 12 points and Ray Allen 11 for the Celtics, who snapped a two-game skid. Rondo had season highs in both points and assists.
Photo: Reuters
C.J. Watson, who started in Rose’s spot, scored 22 points for the Bulls, whose win streak ended at five in the finale of a 6-3 road trip. Carlos Boozer also scored 22 and pulled down seven rebounds.
WIZARDS 98, PISTONS 77
In Auburn Hills, Michigan, JaVale McGee had 22 points and eight rebounds and John Wall dished out 15 assists as Washington routed Detroit.
Detroit entered on a season-best four-game winning streak, but saw it end when the Wizards went on a 22-2 run that spanned the third and fourth quarters.
Nick Young added 22 points for the Wizards. Greg Monroe had a game-high 27 for Detroit.
HEAT 107, HAWKS 87
In Atlanta, LeBron James scored 23 points and Dwyane Wade added 21 as Miami blew out Atlanta after racing to a 22-point lead at halftime.
The Heat made a big statement in the Southeast Division against the second-place Hawks, leading by as many as 32 in what turned into nothing more than a showcase for Miami’s Big Three.
By halftime, Wade already had 21 points, James was rolling along with 14 points and nine rebounds and Chris Bosh put a double-double in the books with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Bosh finished with 14 points and a season-high 16 rebounds. James grabbed 13 rebounds and doled out six assists. Wade had a couple of steals and blocked a shot.
WARRIORS 106, ROCKETS 97
In Oakland, California, Monta Ellis had 33 points and seven assists and David Lee added 15 points and 13 rebounds as Golden State beat Houston for their second straight victory over a Western Conference playoff contender.
Rookie reserve Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry had 14 points apiece and each made some big shots late to help the Warriors upset another top team. Golden State also won in Denver on Thursday night.
Kevin Martin started to break out of a recent shooting slump with 28 points and Luis Scola had 14 points and 13 rebounds for the Rockets, whose three-game winning streak ended.
JAZZ 98, GRIZZLIES 88
In Memphis, Al Jefferson had 21 points and a season-high 15 rebounds and Gordon Hayward added 23 points as Utah snapped a three-game losing streak.
Hayward shot eight-for-12 from the field, part of a 51 percent shooting performance by the Jazz on the night. Paul Millsap finished with 16 for Utah, shooting 7 of 11. Raja Bell had 10 points.
Rudy Gay led Memphis with 22 points, while Mike Conley (six assists) and Marc Gasol scored 17 apiece.
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