Lakers’ Bryant reaches milestone
ATLANTA (AP) – Kobe Bryant scored 26 points to pass Moses Malone on the career scoring list and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Atlanta Hawks 101-87 on Tuesday night.
The Lakers took a three-game losing streak into the All-Star break. Since then, they’ve won eight straight, a streak that began with a similar 104-80 home win over the Hawks on Feb. 22.
Bryant passed Malone for sixth place on the list.
The Lakers’ 7-footers – Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol – both had double-doubles and dramatically affected the Hawks’ shot selection. Center Al Horford relied on jump shots for his 17 points.
Bynum had 16 points, 16 rebounds and three blocked shots. Gasol had 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Josh Smith scored 16 points for the Hawks, who have lost four of five.
After leading 57-49 at halftime, the Lakers scored the first six points of the second half and stretched their lead to 22 points at 79-57 late in the third period. Smith had a three-point play in a 9-0 run for Atlanta to cut the lead to 90-82.
The Lakers answered with an 8-0 run, including Bryant’s 3-pointer with 3:22 remaining.
Lakers fans chanted “MVP! MVP!” as Bryant made two free throws with 1:02 remaining. The free throws gave Los Angeles a 100-84 lead. Lakers coach Phil Jackson stuck with most of his starters for the final minute.
Bryant, the 13-time All-Star, began the night 12 points from matching Malone’s 27,409 points. He passed Malone when he made three free throws with 2:05 remaining in the first half.
Bryant has moved past an impressive list of Hall of Fame scorers this season. He passed Malone one week after eclipsing Elvin Hayes for seventh. He also has topped the scoring totals of Hakeem Olajuwon, Oscar Robertson, Dominique Wilkins and John Havlicek this season.
Los Angeles had five players in double figures before the end of the third period.
Trail Blazers 105
Heat 96
MIAMI – LaMarcus Aldridge scored 26 points, Gerald Wallace scored 22 and the Portland Trail Blazers sent Miami to its fifth straight loss.
Andre Miller and Brandon Roy each scored 14 for Portland, winners of seven straight on the road and four straight overall. The Blazers’ bench outscored Miami’s 41-8.
Dwyane Wade scored 38 points and LeBron James added 31 for the Heat, who are the 12th team in NBA history to have a 12-game winning streak and five-game losing streak in the same season.
Chris Bosh was held to seven points on 3 for 11 shooting.
76ers 110, Pacers 100
INDIANAPOLIS – Thaddeus Young scored 18 points to help the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Indiana Pacers.
Andre Iguodala, coming off back-to-back triple-doubles, finished with 16 points and 10 assists for Philadelphia. Jrue Holiday scored 16 points and Jodie Meeks added 15 for the 76ers, who have won seven of eight.
Tyler Hansbrough scored 26 points, Roy Hibbert scored 13 and rookie Paul George had a season-high 10 rebounds for Indiana.
Warriors 95
Cavaliers 85
CLEVELAND – Monta Ellis made a career-high six 3-pointers – all in the second half – and scored 24 points, and Stephen Curry added 23 points, sending the Golden State Warriors to a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Ellis made all 5 of his 3-point attempts and scored 17 in the third quarter as the Warriors won for the second time in eight games.
David Lee added 14 points and 14 rebounds for Golden State.
Baron Davis scored 19 in his second home game for the Cavs, who were powerless to stop Ellis once he warmed up from outside.
Bucks 95, Wizards 76
WASHINGTON – Brandon Jennings scored 23 points and Andrew Bogut had 14 points, nine rebounds amd seven assists in his first game back after an injury to help the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Washington Wizards 95-76.
John Salmons had 22 points for the Bucks, who ended a two-game losing streak. Jennings scored 10 points in the third quarter and the Bucks led 75-52 after three.
Rookie Jordan Crawford had a career-high 22 points for the Wizards, who have lost nine of their last 10.
Bogut returned to the Bucks’ starting lineup after missing three games with a muscle strain in his left ribcage area. He played 33 minutes and scored six straight points for Milwaukee midway through the second quarter.
James being sued
ATLANTA – An Atlanta nightclub is suing Miami Heat star LeBron James, accusing him of reneging on a promise to make a one-hour appearance later this month.
The Opera nightclub’s complaint filed Monday in Fulton County Superior Court says James canceled a March 17 appearance for which he was supposed to be paid $25,000. The suit also names the owners of the rival Gold Room nightclub.
Court papers say a representative for James accepted $15,500 in advance payments from Opera, then notified the club that James would appear at the Gold Room.
Opera nightclub attorney Yasha Heidari says he hoped to settle the dispute. A hearing has been set for Thursday on Opera’s request to ban James from making other appearances.
A representative for James did not return a call seeking comment.