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LOS ANGELES: Kobe Bryant’s latest 50-point outburst
saw the Los Angeles Lakers secure a National Basketball Association
playoff berth Sunday, thanks to a 109-98 victory over Seattle.
Bryant registered his 10th game
of the season with at least 50 points. Not all of those explosive
performances have resulted in Lakers victories.
But on Sunday, Bryant was
determined to make sure that the slumping Lakers would play beyond
the regular season.
The superstar guard connected on
18-of-25 shots, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range, and made
11-of-13 free throws en route to posting his 21st career 50-point
outburst.
The Lakers, who improved to
41-40, had lost eight of their last 10 games entering the contest.
They looked as if they would let
this one slip away after having a 19-point lead cut to one in the
fourth quarter.
The SuperSonics made things
interesting when Mike Wilks scored on a driving layup over Smush
Parker to close within 87-86 with 7:58 remaining.
However, Bryant, the reigning NBA
scoring champion, netted eight points during an impressive 14-3
surge, capped by Lamar Odom’s one-handed jam from Luke Walton at
the 2:45 mark to create a 101-89 cushion.
In the third quarter, Bryant
picked up his 13th technical of the season—just three shy of
receiving an automatic one-game suspension.
The Lakers’ Los Angeles rivals
the Clippers saw their playoff hopes dimmed as they fell 105-100 to
Sacramento.
Meanwhile the Golden State
Warriors continued their playoff push with a 121-108 victory over
Minnesota.
Richardson collected 32 points,
12 rebounds and seven assists and Al Harrington added 18 points for
the Warriors, who are now one-half game behind the Lakers and
occupying the eighth and final playoff spot - one game ahead of the
ninth-place Clippers.
“We played well tonight and
these games aren’t always the easiest to coach,” Warriors coach
Don Nelson said. “It was a great win for us because the Clippers
lost. We haven’t had the luxury of controlling our own destiny in
awhile and that’s why we fought so hard and have the record that
we do down the stretch.
“I am still worried about our
last two games because we have to play the best team in basketball
and then go on the road on a back-to-back, and we haven’t done
well in those situations.”
Other results: Bulls 101,
Washington 68; Nets 111, Pacers 107; Kings 105, Clippers 100; Mavs
91. Spurs 86; Warriors 121, Wolves 108; 76ers 102, Pistons 91;
Raptors 107, Knicks 105; Magic 88, Celtics 86.
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