Bryant’s season-high 42 lift hot Lakers
CHICAGO (AP)—Kobe Bryant(notes) scored a season-high 42 points, and the Los AngelesLakers won for the 12th time in 13 games, beating the fading Chicago Bulls 96-87on Tuesday.
Down one through three quarters, the Lakers pulled away early in the fourthand sent Chicago to its 11th loss in 13 games.
Bryant was simply phenomenal even though he was wearing a splint on hisbroken right index finger, tearing through the Bulls after struggling to score16 in a loss to Utah on Saturday. He needed IV fluids in that game because of astomach ailment but had no trouble this time.
Chicago Bulls' John Salmon… AP – Dec 15, 9:44 pm EST ![]()
Chicago Bulls' John Salmon… AP – Dec 15, 9:43 pm EST ![]()
Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe B… AP – Dec 15, 9:43 pm EST ![]()
Los Angeles Lakers' Pau Ga… AP – Dec 15, 9:42 pm EST ![]()
Los Angeles Lakers' Ron Ar… AP – Dec 15, 9:42 pm EST ![]()
Los Angeles Lakers head coach … AP – Dec 15, 9:39 pm EST ![]()
Chicago Bulls' Derrick Ros… AP – Dec 15, 9:39 pm EST ![]()
Chicago Bulls' John Salmon… AP – Dec 15, 9:38 pm EST ![]()
Chicago Bulls' Derrick Ros… AP – Dec 15, 9:37 pm EST YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index = 8; YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_lazy_images = [http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091216/capt.8a18e752e1814a868d5a29b367e532e4.lakers_bulls_basketball_iljp104.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=26&yc=1&wc=358&hc=398&q=70&sig=fbOlB70U4rsDHvDiXdTwjA--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091216/capt.06ff2410a7194998af682610e8837eac.lakers_bulls_basketball_iljp105.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=312&hc=347&q=70&sig=I.LdQZ_SZ1.sDqQcmIMW0Q--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091216/capt.8808ca527614412e8bb1be011279cd69.lakers_bulls_basketball_iljp103.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=268&hc=298&q=70&sig=Gt8TaDKbPyKZw8BgkHB_vg--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091216/capt.9e59e23abbcf4a34904767a006de838f.lakers_bulls_basketball_iljp101.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=40&yc=1&wc=330&hc=367&q=70&sig=YLYxMQHMKh2fKEnzsw_MfA--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091216/capt.c4c4c2682fb4402ab63235687f1144e9.lakers_bulls_basketball_iljp107.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=316&hc=351&q=70&sig=r7tA2zvqr.8W8CJuPqQrmw--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091216/capt.6de8d121fd3c444f8742fa47047b7019.lakers_bulls_basketball_iljp106.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=222&hc=247&q=70&sig=zazocmJ2nv1NZgTQJKUuVA--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091216/capt.1b59ae6972894f8abd03d8fd0cdae01d.lakers_bulls_basketball_iljp108.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=240&hc=267&q=70&sig=V94dEC_BsBljlJWWjyKmCw--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091216/capt.d1ded7d44d95401fa83cb139465a54db.lakers_bulls_basketball_iljp109.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=39&yc=1&wc=335&hc=372&q=70&sig=qLFDSAHs1yuJ0oPZQ9WQVA--]; YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(window,load,YAHOO.Sports.articleLazyLoadCarousel.init); 1 of 9 LAL-Chi Gallery function prev_photo() { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index > 0) { goto_photo(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index – 1); } else { goto_photo(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index); }}function next_photo() { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index 0) { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_prev, prev); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_prev, prev_disabled); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_prev, prev_disabled); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_prev, prev); } if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index < YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index) { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_next, next); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_next, next_disabled); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_next, next_disabled); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_next, next); }*/}function goto_photo(p) { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos) { for(i = 0; i < YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos.length; i++) { if (i == p) { YAHOO.util.Dom.setStyle(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos[i], display, ); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.setStyle(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos[i], display, none); } } if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page) { YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page.innerHTML =(p + 1); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index = p; } } update_buttons();}YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_init = function () { YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(article_carousel_prev, click, prev_photo); YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(article_carousel_next, click, next_photo); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index = 0; YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page = YAHOO.util.Dom.get(carousel_page); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos = YAHOO.util.Dom.getElementsByClassName(item, div, leadphoto); if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos) { goto_photo(0); }}YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_init();
He was particularly good in the early going, scoring 20 points in the firstquarter and 25 in the half against single coverage as Los Angeles built a 54-48lead, and some fans even chanted “MVP! MVP!” after his dunk in the closingseconds.
Andrew Bynum(notes) added 11 points, Pau Gasol(notes) grabbed 16 rebounds and ShannonBrown(notes) scored seven of his nine in the fourth as Los Angeles came away with thewin.
Luol Deng(notes) scored 21 for Chicago and so did Derrick Rose(notes) even though hestrained a left rib in the first quarter. Brad Miller(notes) scored 15 and Joakim Noah(notes)added 11 points and 20 rebounds for his 11th double-double, but the Bulls cameup short against the Western Conference leaders.
They can take some comfort in this, though: They didn’t get embarrassed.
That’s a big improvement for a team that lost to New Jersey and got blownout by Toronto, Atlanta and Boston during an ugly seven-day stretch, and theBulls were even leading 73-72 going into the fourth.
Brown, who’s from the Chicago area, buried a corner 3 and dunked on athree-on-one to give the Lakers a 77-73 lead a minute into the fourth quarter,and Los Angeles stayed in control the rest of the way.
It was 90-84 after Miller buried a jumper with 2:14 left, but Bryant hit oneof his own in the final minute. Gasol converted two free throws, and Bryant thenpunctuated the win with that dunk, drawing a roar from the crowd.
NOTES: Lakers F Ron Artest(notes) said he does not anticipate any trouble with BenWallace(notes) when Los Angeles visits Detroit on Sunday, although he wouldn’t mindfighting him on pay-per-view. He even called Wallace “a good guy” who has a“great family,” and said if they did go at it, the bout would have to besanctioned. “It’s something that’s kinda cool and probably will never happen,”Artest said. In a recent interview with the Sporting News, Artest said he’sstill ready to fight Wallace, the player who shoved him on the play thatpreceded the brawl with Pistons fans when Artest was with Indiana.
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