Kobe gets a triple-double, leads Lakers past Mavs 101-81 in key game for playoff race

Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant poses after hitting a shot and drawing a foul during the first half of the Lakers' NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks, Tuesday, April 2, 2013, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) (The Associated Press)

Dallas Mavericks guard Darren Collison, below, puts up a shot as Los Angeles Lakers forward Earl Clark defends and forward Pau Gasol, of Spain, watche during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, April 2, 2013, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) (The Associated Press)

Kobe Bryant had 23 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in his 19th career triple-double, and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Dallas Mavericks 101-81 Tuesday night in a key game for the two teams struggling to get into the Western Conference playoff picture.

Dwight Howard had 24 points and 12 rebounds while hitting seven fourth-quarter free throws for the Lakers (39-36), who had lost four of six before jumping to a big early lead on Dallas and hanging on to it throughout the second half.

With former coach Phil Jackson in attendance for Shaquille O'Neal's jersey retirement, Bryant put on a virtuoso performance while playing more than 47 minutes.

With the win, Los Angeles moved back into an eighth-place tie in the West with the Utah Jazz (39-36), who hold the tiebreaker edge on the Lakers.