Howard takes over for Bryant
LOS ANGELES—Dwight Howard had 26 points and 17 rebounds, helping Los Angeles rally in the fourth quarter to beat San Antonio in its first game since losing Kobe Bryant for the season.
Steve Blake scored 23 points for the Lakers (44-37), who lead Utah (42-38) by 1½ games for the eighth postseason spot in the West after their seventh win in eight games. Bryant limped off the Staples Center floor with a torn Achilles tendon Friday night.
Tim Duncan had 23 points and 10 rebounds for the Spurs, who have lost six straight road games.
San Antonio (58-22) is likely to finish second in the West behind Oklahoma City (59-21), which holds the tiebreaker.
Miami 105, Chicago 93
In Miami, LeBron James scored 24 points and Dwyane Wade added 22 as the Miami Heat set a club record for home wins in a season, beating the Chicago Bulls 105-93 on Sunday.
Mario Chalmers and Chris Andersen each scored 15 for Miami, which improved to a 36-4 win-loss mark at home — topping the 35-6 record by the 2004-05 Heat.
Miami held Chicago without a 2-point basket for the first 16 minutes of the second half, with the Bulls relying almost exclusively on 3-pointers.
Carlos Boozer had 16 points and 20 rebounds for the Bulls, who snapped Miami’s 27-game winning streak last month. Chicago finished with 29 field goals and 30 fouls, allowing the Heat to shoot a season-high 41 free throws.
The loss keeps Chicago in the No. 6 spot in the Eastern Conference. Miami has wrapped up home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. (AP)