Bryant, Lakers Rout Spurs 106-85

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»

Season-high 31 points keys 112-108 victory over Mavericks

(NEWSER) - Lamar Odom scored a season-high 31 points, Kobe Bryant added 25 points and 10 rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers clinched a playoff berth Friday night with a 112-108 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. Pau Gasol had 25 points and seven assists for the Lakers, and Odom grabbed 10 rebounds. More»

His replacement Harris shines against Bucks, Lakers sear Heat

(NEWSER) - Trailing the Spurs by two points with 35 seconds on the clock, the Mavericks benched assister Jason Kidd in favor of shotmaker Jerry Stackhouse, but to no avail. San Antonio went on to win 97-94 after two missed shots by Dirk Nowitzki and one blocked Jason Terry try, the Dallas Morning News reports. In other basketball action: More»

Kobe hands out assists to Lakers, injury to 'Melo in 116-99 Denver loss

(NEWSER) - Kobe Bryant's foot is as dangerous as his jumper, apparently—when Denver's Carmelo Anthony came down on it in the second period of last night's 116-99 loss to the Lakers, he got up with a sprained ankle. Kobe's contribution to the Lakers was a pass-first offense, with 17 points and 11 assists, reports the Rocky Mountain News. More»