Kobe Bryant scored 42 points, Ron Artest got 5 of his 18 points in the final two minutes of the third overtime, and the Los Angeles Lakers outlasted visiting Phoenix for a 139-137 victory last night.
Lamar Odom had a season-high 29 points and 16 rebounds in the Lakers’ 13th win in 14 games since the All-Star break. Pau Gasol added 24 points, including two tying free throws with 2.5 seconds left in the second overtime in an enormously entertaining rematch of last season’s Western Conference finals.
Channing Frye scored a career-high 32 points and hit three tying free throws to force double overtime for the Suns, and Steve Nash had 19 points and 20 assists in the Suns’ fifth loss in seven games.
Bulls 114, Hawks 81 — Derrick Rose had more points than minutes played — 30 to 29 — to go with 10 assists and Luol Deng added 27 points as Chicago moved back in the Eastern Conference lead with an easy win in Atlanta.
Chicago’s starters sat out the final period after the Bulls set season highs with 41 points in the second period and 72 points in the first half, helping them enjoy a 29-point lead (72-43). Rose closed the first half with three 3-pointers, as Chicago made 31 of 42 shots (73.8 percent) in the first two quarters.
The Bulls, who have won 10 of 11 since losing in Atlanta March 2, began the night tied with idle Boston for the East’s best record.
The Hawks, who have lost 7 of 10, were denied an opportunity to clinch a playoff spot and absorbed their first home loss to Chicago in four years.
Jeff Teague scored 17 of his 20 points in the fourth for Atlanta, which trailed, 98-60, after three and also decided to rest its starters in the final period. Josh Smith and Al Horford had 14 points apiece, but Horford departed in the third with a strained hamstring.
Trail Blazers 111, Wizards 76 — Gerald Wallace had 28 points as host Portland routed Washington.
LaMarcus Aldridge had 22 points before sitting for the fourth quarter, and Nicolas Batum added 22 points and 12 rebounds for the Blazers.
Jordan Crawford had 12 points for the Wizards, who dropped their seventh straight on the road to fall to 1-32 away from home.![]()




