MANILA, Philippines – Kobe Bryant scored 34 points, including the game-winning lay-up with nine seconds left, as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the visiting Atlanta Hawks, 99-98, Sunday at the Staples Center (Monday morning in Manila).
The win allowed the Lakers to post a .500 record (30-30) for the first time since December 2012, and puts them 2.5 games behind the Houston Rockets for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
The Lakers made over 68% of their field goal attempts in the first quarter as they got off to a quick start, but Atlanta guards Devin Harris and Kyle Korver waxed hot in the third quarter as the Hawks erased a 16-point deficit.
Bryant came up big for the Lakers in the final quarter, scoring 11 points – including a tomahawk dunk past Hawks forward Josh Smith that left the Staples Center buzzing.
"I just wanted to attack. Take the game right to them. Be aggressive, be physical," Bryant said, as quoted by NBA.com.
"I don't know where he's getting his young legs from, but obviously, the last three or four possessions he went right to the rim and made some incredible shots," said Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni.
A slam dunk by Al Horford gave the Hawks their last lead of the game at 98-97, before Bryant put the Lakers ahead for good with a difficult, contested lay-up over Smith.
Steve Nash had a double-double for Los Angeles with 15 points and 10 assists, while Dwight Howard finished with 11 points and 15 rebounds.
Horford finished with 24 points for the Hawks, while Smith had 19 points, seven assists and seven rebounds but missed all six of his free throw attempts and committed a crucial turnover in their final possession.
The Hawks dropped to 33-25 this season, still good for fourth place in the Eastern Conference.
source: abs-cbnnews.com
