Magic overcomes Bryant to top Lakers
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Reuters
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Aralık 22, 2008 00:00
MIAMI - The Orlando Magic overcame Kobe Bryant's season-high 41 points to beat the Lakers 106-103 and hand Los Angeles a rare second successive loss on Saturday.
Jameer Nelson scored 27 points and Rashard Lewis added 22 for the Southeast Division-leading Magic (21-6), who won their fourth consecutive game and sixth in a row at home. Turkish forward Hidayet "Hedo" Türkoğlu had a fine all-around performance with 14 points, seven assists and five rebounds.
"I think it continues to show our toughness," Nelson told reporters. "We have a lot of guys out there that people don't believe in and they've been stepping up big for us."
Orlando has now won eight of its last nine games.
"We have confidence in each other as a team," Nelson said. "We know we are one of the better teams in the NBA."
Dwight Howard sealed the win with two free throws three seconds from time. He finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds.
Bryant missed a three-point attempt at the buzzer as the Lakers (21-5), the Pacific Division leader, lost back-to-back games for the first time this season. Los Angeles went down 89-87 at Miami Friday, Bryant's game-tying effort bouncing off the rim with a second to play.
First half
Bryant scored 25 points in the first half but only four in the fourth quarter. "They sent about three guys over there at me every time," Bryant said. "We still did a good job moving the ball and I attacked when I had opportunities. I had a couple of good looks but they just didn't go down for me."
Derek Fisher backed up Bryant with 27 points and Pau Gasol had 11 but Lakers' center Andrew Bynum scored just three points and forward Luke Walton only two.
The Lakers led by 10 points midway the second quarter but the Magic went on a 10-2 run to start the second half.
Nelson scored 15 points in a big third quarter, which ended with Orlando ahead 85-84.
"Jameer really shot the ball extremely well during that one stretch," Bryant said. "Once he got that rhythm you couldn't stop him."
"I think it continues to show our toughness," Nelson told reporters. "We have a lot of guys out there that people don't believe in and they've been stepping up big for us."
Orlando has now won eight of its last nine games.
"We have confidence in each other as a team," Nelson said. "We know we are one of the better teams in the NBA."
Dwight Howard sealed the win with two free throws three seconds from time. He finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds.
Bryant missed a three-point attempt at the buzzer as the Lakers (21-5), the Pacific Division leader, lost back-to-back games for the first time this season. Los Angeles went down 89-87 at Miami Friday, Bryant's game-tying effort bouncing off the rim with a second to play.
First half
Bryant scored 25 points in the first half but only four in the fourth quarter. "They sent about three guys over there at me every time," Bryant said. "We still did a good job moving the ball and I attacked when I had opportunities. I had a couple of good looks but they just didn't go down for me."
Derek Fisher backed up Bryant with 27 points and Pau Gasol had 11 but Lakers' center Andrew Bynum scored just three points and forward Luke Walton only two.
The Lakers led by 10 points midway the second quarter but the Magic went on a 10-2 run to start the second half.
Nelson scored 15 points in a big third quarter, which ended with Orlando ahead 85-84.
"Jameer really shot the ball extremely well during that one stretch," Bryant said. "Once he got that rhythm you couldn't stop him."