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Kobe Bryant of the LA Lakers - Source: Reuters -
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Kobe Bryant scored 41 points to guide the Los Angeles Lakers to
a 103-102 overtime victory over the Houston Rockets on
Thursday.
Andrew Bynum made three successive free throws for the NBA champion
Lakers (4-1) in the extra session, including one that broke a
102-102 tie with 24 seconds remaining.
"We have experience in winning games and toughing it out," Los
Angeles forward Lamar Odom told reporters.
"Kobe did a great job of taking over the game offensively and Bynum
dominated the game with his rebounding."
Bynum finished with 17 points and 17 rebounds while the Rockets
had six players in double figures, Carl Landry leading the home
team with 20.
Former Rockets' forward Ron Artest scored a three-pointer that put
the Lakers up 92-89 with 30 seconds remaining before Houston's
Trevor Ariza, who helped the Lakers to last season's NBA title,
answered with his own three-pointer to force overtime.
"It was poetic justice that both (players) had a chance to make big
shots," said Lakers coach Phil Jackson. "I thought we had the game
in hand (with Artest's shot). It was a great game."
Bryant, the MVP of last season's NBA Finals, made 15-of-30 shots
from the field in his 98th career 40-point effort.
The Lakers trailed by seven early in the fourth before Bryant made
10 points in a row for his team. In overtime he twice put the
Lakers ahead with jump shots and tallied six points in the extra
session.
Houston's (3-2) Ariza had 15 points and nine rebounds while Chuck
Hayes had 14 points and 14 rebounds. Luis Scola finished with 16
and 13.
NBA results on Thursday (home team in
CAPS)
ORLANDO 122 Phoenix
100
Miami 93
WASHINGTON 89
TORONTO 110
Detroit 99
Denver 122 NEW JERSEY
94
Indiana 101 NY KNICKS
89
Boston 92
MINNESOTA 90
LA Lakers 103 HOUSTON 102
(OT)
NEW ORLEANS 114 Dallas 107
(OT)
Atlanta 113 SACRAMENTO
105
GOLDEN STATE 113 Memphis 105
