NBA – Lakers contend for first after win over New Orleans

LOS ANGELES (NBA) - Team USA’s Kobe Bryant and Spain’s Pau Gasol had big nights as the Los Angeles Lakers beat New Orleans 107-104 on Friday to close the gap on the first-place Hornets to just a half game in the Western Conference.

Bryant had 29 points and 10 rebounds and Gasol weighed in with 25 and six as LA improved to 55-25 while dropping New Orleans to 55-24.

Should the teams finish with the same records, LA will clinch home court advantage in the Western Conference play-offs.

The San Antonio Spurs (54-25) are also still chasing first place as well after a 95-74 home win over Seattle. The Houston Rockets are yet another side contending for a high finish at 54-25 after a 101-90 home triumph over the Phoenix Suns.

Sacramento won 103-86 over Portland in another Western Conference game with no play-off implications.

In the East, the Toronto Raptors still have a chance to finish sixth after a 113-85 win over New Jersey lifted the NBA’s lone Canadian team to 40-39.
Argentina’s Carlo Delfino led the Raptors with 24 points while Jose Calderon of Spain had 11 points and 10 assists.

Philadelphia (40-39) dropped to seventh after an 85-76 setback at home to Indiana. Both Toronto and Philly are a game behind fifth-place Washington (41-38) after the Wizards’ 102-74 defeat at Detroit.

In other games, Minnesota edged Orlando 102-101, Chicago defeated Cleveland 100-95 and Boston won 102-86 over Milwaukee.

Atlanta prevailed 116-104 at New York and Memphis scraped a 96-91 home success over Miami.

FIBA