Kobe, Lakers Douse Raptors Late, 117-108

Posted Mar 12, 08 5:19 AM CDT in Sports

(Newser) – The feisty Raptors kept it close until late, but Kobe's well-rounded 34-7-7 proved insurmountable in the Lakers' 117-108 triumph, reports the Los Angeles Times. Nonetheless, diminutive guard T.J. Ford did surprising damage inside, slashing for 28 points in the absence of bruising All-Star Chris Bosh. Also in pro basketball:

The Suns evened their record to 5-5 since the Shaq trade, sandblasting the Grizzlies 132-111 behind Amare Stoudemire's 29 points and 13 boards.
The Bulls closed in on the eighth playoff seed with a 108-96 upset of the Jazz at home, an ill-auguring start to Utah's five-game roadtrip.

Source Los Angeles Times

0 comments |

Toronto Raptors guard T.J. Ford, center, gets a hug from Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant, left, as Derek Fisher waves to Raptors players at the end of the basketball game at the Staples Center in Los... (Associated Press)

Toronto Raptors guard T.J. Ford, right, looks to pass the ball agaisnt Los Angeles Lakers forward Lamar Odom during the fourth quarter of the basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles Tuesday,... (Associated Press)

Toronto Raptors guard T.J. Ford, right, shoots a jumper and scores over Los Angeles Lakers forward Lamar Odom during the fourth quarter of the basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles Tuesday,... (Associated Press)

Los Angeles Lakers forward Lamar Odom, right, goes up under to score against Toronto Raptors center Rasho Nesterovic, left, of Slovenia, during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game at the Staples... (Associated Press)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, left, is fouled as he goes up for a dunk by Toronto Raptors forward Jamario Moon, behind, as Toronto Raptors forward Andrea Bargnani , right, of Italy, defends during... (Associated Press)

Phoenix Suns center Shaquille O'Neal (32) lays in a basket past Memephis Grizzlies center Darko Milicic (31), of Serbia, in the third quarter of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March 11, 2008, in Phoenix.... (Associated Press)

Phoenix Suns guard Gordan Giricek, center, of Croatia, drives between Memphis Grizzlies defenders Casey Jacobsen, left, and Brian Cardinal, right, on his way to the basket in the fourth quarter of an... (Associated Press)

Phoenix Suns forward Amare Stoudemire, left, dunks the ball as Memphis Grizzlies center Kwame Brown, right, looks on in the third quarter of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March 11, 2008, in Phoenix.(AP... (Associated Press)

Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash, left, of South Africa, questions referee Tony Brown, right, about a call against Suns center Shaquille O'Neal, not shown, while playing the Memphis Grizzlies in the first... (Associated Press)

Utah Jazz's Deron Williams (8) drives towards the basket against Chicago Bulls' Kirk Hinrich, left, as the Jazz's Carlos Boozer watches during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March... (Associated Press)

Chicago Bulls' Ben Gordon reacts after making a three-point basket during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz on Tuesday, March 11, 2008, in Chicago. The Bulls won 108-96.... (Associated Press)

Utah Jazz's Andrei Kirilenko, front, of Russia, drives towards the basket against Chicago Bulls' Luol Deng, of Sudan, during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March 11, 2008, in Chicago.... (Associated Press)

Utah Jazz's Deron Williams, left, argues an out of bounds call with teammates Ronnie Brewer (9) and Andrei Kirilenko (47), of Russia, during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago... (Associated Press)