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Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, left, goes up for a shot as Portland Trail Blazers center Meyers Leonard defends during the first half of their NBA basketball game, Friday, Feb. 22, 2013, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) |
Kobe scores 40, Lakers hold off Blazers 111-107
By JOE RESNICK
Associated Press /
February 23, 2013
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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kobe Bryant scored 40 points, Dwight Howard had 19 points and 16 rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers capped a trying week with a gritty 111-107 victory over the slumping Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night.
Hours after longtime Lakers owner Jerry Buss was buried, and a day after a moving memorial service punctuated by eulogies from Bryant and other franchise greats, the team got back to basketball with a much-needed victory at Staples Center.
Bryant scored 11 points in the final 5½ minutes and the Lakers won for the seventh time in 10 games. They remained ninth in the Western Conference playoff race, 3½ games behind Houston for the final spot with 26 remaining. Portland trails Los Angeles by 1½ games.
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