Vintage Kobe steals the show as Lakers end slump
LOS ANGELES — Kobe Bryant hit seven 3pointers while scoring a season-high 38 points, and the Los Angeles Lakers snapped their 10- game losing streak with a 119115 victory over t he Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night.
Lou Williams scored 20 points for the Lakers, who avoided the longest losing streak in the 16- time champion franchise's history despite blowing a 16-point lead in the second half. Los Angeles had lost 10 straight for the first time since 1994.
Bryant took charge with a vintage performance in his farewell season, repeatedly scoring from the perimeter in the Lakers' first win since Jan. 12.
After Minnesota took the lead in the waning minutes, Bryant put the Lakers back ahead with dramatic back- to- back 3pointers. He scored 14 of the Lakers' 18 points in the final 5:02.
Andrew Wiggins scored 30 points for the Timberwolves, who have lost five straight and 16 of 18. ROCKETS 115,
HEAT 102 James Harden scored 26 points and tied a careerhigh with 14 assists as Houston snapped a threegame skid.
The Rockets had a double-digit lead for most of the second half and were up by 10 when Josh Smith scored all of the team's points in a 7- 2 run that pushed the advantage to 104- 89 with about five minutes remaining.
Houston started Smith, a 6-foot-9 forward, at center with Dwight Howard serving a one- game suspension for making contact with an official this weekend and Clint Capela out with a thigh injury.
Smith scored a season- high 19 points in his second start t his season and first since returning to Houston in a trade from the Clippers on Jan. 22.
Luol Deng had 17 points for the Heat whose season- high four game winning streak ended. RAPTORS 102,
SUNS 97 Kyle Lowry scored 26 points, including five 3pointers, DeMar DeRozan added 22 points and Toronto spoiled the debut of Phoenix interim coach Earl Watson.
The Raptors, whose franchise- record 11- game losing streak ended Monday night in Denver, led the entire second half but had to hold on at the finish.
Markieff Morris had 30 points and 11 rebounds, both season highs, for the Suns, who fired coach Jeff Hornacek on Monday and promoted the 36- year- old Watson to the interim job. Phoenix rookie Devin Booker added 27 points, matching his career best with six 3s. Archie Goodwin had 18 points and a careerbest 12 assists for the Suns, who have lost five in a row and 20 of their last 22. CELTICS 97, KNICKS 89 Isaiah Thomas had 20 points and eight assists, and Boston wore down New York.
Jae Crowder and Tyler Zeller each added 16 points, while reserves Evan Turner and Kelly Olynyk were also in double figures as the Celtics were fresher and sharper in dominating the final 15 minutes.
Turner had 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Olynyk scored 13 points in the Celtics' fifth victory in six games.
Carmelo Anthony had 16 points and 14 rebounds but shot just 4 for 16 in the Knicks' sixth loss in seven games. Robin Lopez added 17 points and 13 rebounds, while Arron Afflalo ended a shooting slump with 18 points but had some careless turnovers.