Sonics Nearly Topple Lagging Lakers 106-99

Star can't stop arguing with ref, but team doesn't suffer

(NEWSER) - Seattle never had a chance to get close to the Lakers in last night's 111-91 loss, not even once Kobe Bryant had left the game on his second technical foul. Bryant had pulled together 21 points and 10 assists when he got the first whistle in the third quarter for arguing a no-call. The second followed soon after, the Los Angeles Times reports. More»

123-121 win comes courtesy of Bryant's 6 unanswered points

(NEWSER) - Kurt Thomas' two missed free throws in overtime left the door open for the Lakers, and Kobe Bryant came charging through it to score the final six points of the game and put away the Sonics, 123-121. Bryant had a season-high 48 points; LA's next-highest scorer was Ronny Tuiaf with 14, reports the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. More»

LA never trails against defending champs in 30-point victory

(NEWSER) - No comeback required for the Lakers on Friday, as they scored the final nine points of the first half and never looked back in a 101-71 thrashing of defending champion San Antonio, reports AP. Kobe Bryant scored 22 points and Lamar Odom added 20 points and 12 rebounds as LA held serve at home, taking a 2-0 Western Conference finals series lead. More»

(NEWSER) - Kobe Bryant, celebrating what is expected to be his first NBA MVP award, did just enough to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to another postseason victory. Bryant had 38 points, six rebounds and seven assists yesterday, as the Lakers made it five straight playoff wins by beating the Utah Jazz 109-98 to begin the second round. Game 2 is Wednesday night in L.A. More»

Los Angeles clinches No. 2 spot in the Western Conference

(NEWSER) - Most Valuable Player candidate Kobe Bryant had 20 points, five rebounds and five assists before sitting out the fourth quarter, and the Lakers routed the defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs 106-85 for their seventh win in eight games. The Lakers (56-25), who clinched the Pacific Division championship Friday, assured themselves of at least a second-place finish in the Western Conference. More»