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Hedo’s return not enough to save Raptors from Kobe and Lakers
Bryant netted 32 points and made a fade-away 17-foot jump shot along the baseline with 1.9 seconds remaining to give the defending NBA champions a much-needed win.
“We put a lot of points on the board and our offense looked fine but you don’t win championships by your offense winning pretty,” Bryant told reporters after making the final shot with two defenders in his face. “We have to dirty the game up and play defense.”
All Star Chris Bosh tied the game for Toronto with a three-pointer with nine seconds left but Bryant’s match winner meant the Raptors (32-30) lost for the sixth time in seven games. Toronto led by five with just over seven minutes to play but the Lakers went on a 9-0 run to take a 100-96 advantage. Andrew Bynum contributed 22 points for Los Angeles (47-18) but it was Bryant who again rescued the team, scoring 14 in the final quarter and adding to his list of game-winners this season.
“We were able to get him the ball in a place he wanted to shoot it,” Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. “He made it again.”
Los Angeles have not lost four straight games since 2007 but the Western Conference leaders appeared headed for that fate as the Raptors led for much of the game and by as much as eight in the third quarter. The Lakers trimmed the deficit to three points entering the fourth, where they battled it out to split the season series with the Raptors.
Andrea Bargnani put up 21 for the Raptors while Bosh was playing in his second game since being sidelined for seven contests with ankle and stomach ailments. Pau Gasol finished with 17 and nine rebounds for Los Angeles, whose victory gave it a three-game edge over the Dallas Mavericks atop the conference while the Raptors remained sixth in the East.
In other NBA games it was: Charlotte 83, Miami 78; Indiana 107, Philadelphia 96; Houston 96, Washington 88; Orlando 113, LA Clippers 87; Milwaukee 86, Boston 84; Portland 88, Sacramento 81; and LA Lakers 109, Toronto 107.
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