Kobe Bryant scored 10 of his 34 points in the final 8 1/2 minutes, Lamar Odom added 20 points and nine rebounds, and the host Los Angeles Lakers beat the Toronto Raptors, 117-108, last night to regain the top spot in the Western Conference.
Now, they'll face a major challenge staying there, playing their next four games on the road against New Orleans, Houston, Dallas, and Utah, who have a cumulative record of 168-86 - including 101-26 at home.
Bryant also had seven rebounds and seven assists for the Pacific Division-leading Lakers (45-19), who have won 18 of their last 22 and lead the Spurs by a half-game in the Western Conference race.
Derek Fisher scored 18 points, Pau Gasol had 12 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists and Jordan Farmar added 10 points and five assists for the Lakers, who shot 53.6 percent.
T.J. Ford scored all but four of his 28 points in the second half for the Raptors (34-29), who lost for the fifth time in seven games. Anthony Parker added 21 points, Rasho Nesterovic had 18 points and eight rebounds, and Andrea Bargnani scored 15 for Toronto.
Wizards 105, Bucks 97 - Antawn Jamison scored 23 points, rookie Nick Young had a career-high 22, and the Wizards rallied in the fourth quarter for the win over visiting Milwaukee.
The Wizards sliced and diced through the Bucks' defense to shoot 50 percent with 66 points in the paint, giving the team a much-needed lift following Saturday's dispiriting home loss to Charlotte.
The victory moved Washington, eager to hold onto sixth place in the Eastern Conference, 1 1/2 games ahead of Philadelphia.
Trail Blazers 103, Timberwolves 96 - In Minneapolis, Brandon Roy had 27 points and nine assists, playing biggest during a game-deciding 12-2 run in the fourth quarter to lift Portland to a victory, keeping the Trail Blazers' dimming playoff hopes alive.
Bulls 108, Jazz 96 - Drew Gooden tied a season high with 24 points, Ben Gordon added 19, and Chicago beat visiting Utah to snap the Jazz's five-game winning streak.
Suns 132, Grizzlies 111 - Amare Stoudemire scored 29 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in 30 minutes, and host Phoenix beat Memphis for the eighth straight time.
Pacers 114, SuperSonics 107 - Mike Dunleavy racked up 32 points and host Indiana snapped a three-game losing streak with a victory over Seattle, which has dropped five in a row.
