Kobe reaches 24,000 points, leads Lakers past Grizzlies

2009/11/08

LOS ANGELES: Kobe Bryant scored 41 points while becoming the youngest player to reach 24,000 to lead the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers to a 114-98 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday.

Ron Artest had 19 points and seven assists in the fourth straight win for the defending NBA champions, who played without injured big men Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol.

Lamar Odom managed just three points before fouling out on his 30th birthday, but Bryant carried the Lakers while reaching his latest scoring milestone 38 days before Wilt Chamberlain did. With a second-half surge, he even overtook Grizzlies guard Allen Iverson for 16th place on the NBA's career scoring list.

l AT NEW YORK, LeBron James scored 33 points in his only visit to Madison Square Garden this season, leading Cleveland Cavaliers 100-91 over New York Knicks.

James added nine assists and eight rebounds, but fell just short of passing Kobe Bryant as the active scoring leader at the Garden. James improved his average to 30.4 points, with Bryant averaging 30.5 in 11 visits, according to STATS LLC.

l AT PORTLAND, Oregon, Brandon Roy had 24 points and five rebounds, and Steve Blake added 15 points as Portland Trail Blazers got a lift from their new-look lineup, beating San Antonio Spurs 96-84.

KOBE BRYANT

Richard Jefferson had 19 points, Manu Ginobili had 17, and Tim Duncan added 14 points and eight rebounds, but San Antonio lost Tony Parker to a sprained ankle and couldn't overcome a lethargic first half, playing one night after a loss at Utah.

l AT OAKLAND, California, Chris Kaman had 22 points and nine rebounds in 28 minutes as the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Warriors 118-90 to end a seven-game losing streak in the Oakland Arena.



l AT BOSTON, Jason Richardson bounced back from his worst game of the season to score 34 points with 10 rebounds as Phoenix Suns rebounded from their only defeat to beat Celtics 110-103.

l AT ORLANDO, Florida, Dwight Howard had 22 points and 12 rebounds to help Orlando Magic hold off Charlie Villanueva and Detroit Pistons 110-103.

l AT MINNEAPOLIS, Andrew Bogut bested Al Jefferson inside with 17 points and 10 rebounds and Luke Ridnour had 16 points off the bench as Milwaukee Bucks used a second-half surge to top Minnesota Timberwolves 87-72.

l AT MIAMI, Dwyane Wade scored 22 points and Jermaine O'Neal added 18 as Miami Heat beat Denver Nuggets 96-88. It was a first loss for the Nuggets.

l AT INDIANAPOLIS, Tyler Hansbrough scored 13 points in his pro debut as Indiana Pacers downed Washington Wizards 102-86.

l AT PHILADELPHIA, Andre Iguodala scored 16 points, including a late three-pointer, to give Philadelphia 76ers a 97-94 win over New Jersey Nets.

l AT NEW ORLEANS, Chris Bosh scored 27 points as Toronto Raptors used a 27-4 run in the third quarter to take control of the Hornets, winning 107-90.

l AT CHARLOTTE, North Carolina, Raja Bell scored 24 points as Charlotte Bobcats downed a road-weary Atlanta Hawks 103-83.

l AT HOUSTON, Trevor Ariza and Carl Landry scored 21 points each as Houston Rockets downed Oklahoma City Thunder 105-94. -- AP .