Bryant's 52 points lift Lakers past Mavericks

Kobe Bryant scored 30 of his season-high 52 points in the fourth quarter and overtime to lift the Los Angeles Lakers to a 108-104 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday.

Bryant had 22 points in the fourth quarter as the Lakers overcame a six-point Dallas lead and scored eight more in
overtime.

Jason Kidd, who had 15 points and 11 assists, rallied Dallas to within a point at 105-104 with 10 seconds remaining in overtime.

However, he missed a free throw and Bryant hit two with nine seconds to go."We didn't give them any good looks and I think eventually, that wears the team down," Bryant told reporters. "We really got it done on the defensive end."

The Mavericks needed a three-pointer by Dirk Nowitzki with two seconds left to force overtime."Both teams got into a defensive slugfest, it was a mud wrestling contest out there for at least the second half," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said."

We didn't have many turnovers, although the last play of regulation we did, but it was just a close game.Los Angeles scored the first five points of the extra period on a three-pointer by Sasha Vujacic and Bryant's layup.

Bryant also contributed 11 rebounds and four assists. /english.sabah.com.tr