USA - Bryant makes history again with 50 points against Hornets

NEW ORLEANS (NBA) - Kobe Bryant continues to rewrite the NBA record books while carrying his team into the play-offs.

Bryant scored 50 points - his fourth straight game with 50 or more - to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 111-105 victory over the New Orleans Hornets.

The superstar guard nailed 16-of-29 field goals and 16 of 16 from the free throw line to pass Elgin Baylor for first place on the franchise's all-time list with 18 50-point games.

The nine-time All-Star is now the only Laker in history to score 50 or more points in four straight games.

He is the first player in league history to accomplish the feat since Wilt Chamberlain did it in five straight games in 1962.

The Hornets pulled back to 92-86 on Jannero Pargo's three-pointer with 7:07 remaining in the game, but Bryant held them off with six points down the stretch.

Lamar Odom added 15 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Lakers, who moved two games ahead of Denver (34-33) for the sixth seed in the Western Conference play-offs.

The Toronto Raptors halted a five-game losing streak against the Denver Nuggets with a 121-94 home win, Spanish rookie Jorge Garbajosa scoring 21 of his season-high 22 points in the first half.

Reserve Morris Peterson scored 23 points and TJ Ford added 14 and 14 assists for Toronto (38-31), who lead the second-placed New Jersey Nets (31-38) by seven games in the Atlantic Division.

Jameer Nelson scored 12 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter as the Orlando Magic improved their placement in the play-off race with a 90-82 win over the Nets.

Grant Hill netted 12 points and All-Star Dwight Howard had 10 and 16 rebounds for Orlando (32-38), who moved into seventh place in the Eastern Conference standings.

"Everybody is trying to jockey for position here," Orlando coach Brian Hill said.

"I said to the team, this is what a play-off game is like - the intensity level, teams taking away your first, second and third options and you've got to make basketball plays and have guys that make basketball plays."

Brandon Roy again showed why he is the top candidate for Rookie of the Year, although team-mate LaMarcus Aldridge showed he isn't ready to concede the honour.

Roy hit a tying three-pointer from the top of the key with 17.3 seconds left in regulation and Aldridge took over in overtime to lift the Portland Trail Blazers to a 102-100 triumph over Atlanta Hawks.

The performance of the rookies overshadowed a superb effort by Atlanta's Salim Stoudamire, who scored a career-high 37 points and hit six of nine from the arc.

Tony Parker had 22 points and seven assists and Tim Duncan added 17 and 14 rebounds as the San Antonio Spurs survived a late charge to post a 90-89 triumph over the Detroit Pistons.

The win completed San Antonio's first (two-game) series sweep over Detroit since 2002-03, when the Spurs went on to win the championship.

"It's a great win, especially against a team like Detroit, a top team in the league," Parker said. "I thought overall our defense was good."

Mike Dunleavy jnr and the Indiana Pacers showed they do have some life left in them with a 95-70 win over the surging Miami Heat.

Dunleavy scored 15 of his 20 points in a dominant first quarter and Danny Granger added 22 as the Pacers ran away early.

Elton Brand scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds and Corey Maggette had 19 and five as the Los Angeles Clippers hammered the Utah Jazz 104-72 for their largest margin of victory this season.

Cuttino Mobley had 15 points and Chris Kaman added 10 and 14 rebounds for the Clippers, who remain one-half game in front of the Golden State Warriors (33-37) for the eighth spot in the Western Conference.

"I'm really pleased with the performance," Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said.

"Coming in and getting this type of win here at home is a real boost momentum-wise."

LeBron James collected 21 points and 10 assists to lead four players in double figures as the Cleveland Cavaliers snapped a two-game skid with a 90-68 victory over the sliding New York Knicks.

After a season-high eight-game winning streak, Cleveland suffered back-to-back defeats, including a 98-90 loss to league-leading Dallas on Wednesday.

Jason Terry scored 29 points to lead the Dallas Mavericks to their seventh straight victory over the Boston Celtics, 109-95, extending their winning streak to five games overall.

Terry shot 11 of 15 from the floor, including four of six from the arc, and dished out six assists for Dallas, who outscored Boston 56-14 in the paint.

All-Star Dirk Nowitzki scored 20 points and Josh Howard added 19 points and 11 rebounds for Dallas (57-11).

Paul Pierce scored 30 points to lead the Celtics, who shot just 36% (28 of 77).

Rashard Lewis scored 13 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter and Chris Wilcox had 16 and 12 rebounds as the Seattle SuperSonics rallied for an 85-82 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Without team-mate Ray Allen in the rotation, Lewis connected on seven of 20 shots, including three of 10 from three-point range, and pulled down six rebounds.

"I knew I had to be more aggressive and try to penetrate and get to the basket," Lewis said.

"I maybe forced a couple of shots but I was able to get to the line in the fourth quarter."

A healthy Baron Davis dominated the game, collecting 34 points, 15 assists and nine rebounds as the Golden State Warriors surged past the Washington Wizards, 135-128, in an exciting shootout.

Monta Ellis and Andris Biedrins scored 24 points apiece for the Warriors (33-37), who stayed in the play-off hunt, remaining one-half game behind the Los Angeles Clippers (33-36) for the eighth and final play-off spot in the West.

"We got to win, we have to win. We have to control our own destiny," Davis said. "We can't rely on people to lose."

FIBA