TNT Sports
Kobe secures OT win
By
Published 16/03/2004 at 08:08 GMT
Kobe Bryant shook off a shoulder injury to score 38 points, 24 of them in the fourth quarter, as the Los Angeles Lakers staged a dramatic rally to beat the Orlando Magic 113-110 in overtime on Monday.Shaquille O'Neal had 27 points and 22 rebounds for the
Eurosport
Image credit: TNT Sports
The Magic stormed into a 61-50 halftime advantage and led by as many as 19 points in the third quarter, but the home side staged a furious fourth quarter fightback to force overtime.
Bryant had just one point in the first half and was clearly labouring with the injury as Tracy McGrady out-scored him 21-1.
But Los Angeles blitzed Orlando 29-14 in the final frame as Bryant tied a franchise record for points in a quarter to force the five minute overtime.
Orlando nearly won the game on a desperation last second shot by McGrady that went in as time expired in regulation but officials ruled he did not get the shot off before the buzzer.
The teams traded baskets for most of the extra period before Gary Payton's three-pointer with 1:44 left put the Lakers ahead 113-110 and it turned out to be the game's final basket. Payton added 12 points and nine rebounds for the Lakers (44-23).
McGrady led Orlando with 37 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds. Juwan Howard added 29 points and nine rebounds for the Magic.
Joe Johnson hit the winning basket with 1.4 seconds left in overtime and Shawn Marion scored 29 points as the Phoenix Suns beat the Houston Rockets 99-97.
Yao Ming had 29 points and 19 rebounds for the Rockets, who had a five-game winning streak snapped. Jason Richardson scored 22 points as the Golden State
Warriors ended a season-high nine-game losing streak by stunning the San Antonio Spurs 97-80.
Tony Parker had 29 points for the Spurs, who were once again without the injured Tim Duncan.
Related Topics
Advertisement
Advertisement