LOS ANGELES – Kobe Bryant scored 24 points and rattled home a 3-pointer with 6.8 seconds left, and the Los Angeles Lakers blew every bit of a 17-point lead before holding on for a 91-87 victory over the New Jersey Nets on Tuesday night.
Pau Gasol had 22 points and 12 rebounds, and Ramon Sessions had 19 points and 11 assists as the Lakers put an ugly finish on their 11th victory in 15 games despite never trailing in their eighth consecutive win over the Nets.
Los Angeles led by 12 early in the fourth quarter, but Deron Williams led an 18-6 run for New Jersey, tying it on a 3-pointer with 1:29 left.
Bryant made a long jumper moments later, and the Lakers controlled the ball for 52 straight seconds during the final minute with an offensive rebound and an out-of-bounds deflection. Bryant then made his third 3-pointer, beating the shot clock with a rattling shot, and Williams missed his own 3-point attempt.
Williams scored 20 points, Gerald Wallace had 19, and Kris Humphries added 18 points and 15 rebounds amid steady boos for the Nets, whose first three-game winning streak of the season ended.
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