Kobe Bryant passed Michael Jordan for third place on the NBA scoring list and had 10 points in the final five minutes to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 100-94 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night.
Bryant needed nine points to move past Jordan and, after missing four of his first five shots, he knocked down a pair of free throws with 5:24 to play in the first half to join Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone on the NBA’s career scoring podium. Bryant finished with 26 points on 7-for-20 shooting and hit a 3-pointer with just over a minute to play that helped seal the victory.
Shabazz Muhammad had 28 points and nine rebounds for the Timberwolves.
THUNDER 112, SUNS 88
Russell Westbrook had 28 points, eight assists and eight rebounds, and Kevin Durant added 23 points and eight rebounds as Oklahoma City won its sixth straight game, beating Phoenix Suns 112-88.
Westbrook recorded his eighth straight game of scoring at least 20 points, and getting five rebounds and five assists since his return from a broken hand. By halftime, he had 24, five rebounds and six assists. He narrowly missed getting his ninth career triple-double.
With the win, Oklahoma City – who started the season 3-12 – moved within a half-game of eighth place in the Western Conference. The Thunder, with Westbrook and Durant back after missing most or all of the first part of the season due to injury, have won eight of their last nine games and is 11-13.
Gerald Green led Phoenix with 15 points. The Suns have lost five straight games to fall to 12-13.
WARRIORS 128, PELICANS 122 OT
Stephen Curry scored eight of his 34 points in overtime as Golden State won their 16th straight by beating New Orleans.
Klay Thompson added 29 points for the Warriors, whose franchise-long winning streak includes a club-record 10 straight road victories.
Tyreke Evans scored 34 points for the Pelicans, but fouled out with three minutes left in overtime.
Jrue Holiday had 30 points, nine assists and five steals for New Orleans, who were playing without Anthony Davis but still led 107-99 with 4:16 left in regulation.
Andre Iguodala had a season-high 20 points and Shaun Livingston scored 12 for Golden State. Marreese Speights added 10 points, including a free throw that tied the game at 111, a score that held until regulation ended.
WIZARDS 93, JAZZ 84
John Wall had 16 points, eight assists and six rebounds, as Washington overcame a sluggish start to put away slumping Utah.
Wall also had five steals and three blocks, Bradley Beal scored 22 points, and Paul Pierce added 15 for the Wizards, who nearly succumbed to a letdown game after their big win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night. Washington committed 12 first-half turnovers against the Jazz, but Wall, Beal and Nene led a third-quarter surge, and Andre Miller’s driving layup in the first minute of the fourth quarter produced the game’s first double-digit lead.
Alec Burks scored 19 points, and Gordon Hayward had 16 for the Jazz, who have lost 11 of 12.
The Wizards have won four straight – the longest current winning streak in the Eastern Conference – and seven of eight.
BULLS 93, HEAT 75
Mike Dunleavy scored 22 points as Chicago overcame a sloppy start to beat offensively inept Miami.
Heat leading scorer Chris Bosh (calf strain) missed a game for the first time this season, which left them without enough punch or size to challenge Chicago. Miami shot a season-low 35 percent, including 4 for 22 from 3-point range.
Dunleavy was shut out in the first half but scored 19 points on eight shots in the third quarter, when Chicago outscored Miami 33-16. Dunleavy finished 4 for 5 from 3-point range, while the Bulls shot 9 of 18 beyond the arc and 47 overall.
Jimmy Butler had 17 points for the Central Division-leading Bulls. They improved to 11-3 on the road, best in the Eastern Conference.
Dwyane Wade and Luol Deng led Miami with 17 points apiece. The Heat’s point total matched their season low.
