FIBA Basketball
USA - Kobe out-guns Pierce as Lakers win
NEW YORK (NBA) - Kobe Bryant secured Team USA bragging rights over Paul Pierce by leading the Los Angeles Lakers past the Boston Celtics on Monday. Bryant had his 20th 40-point game of what has been an
Division Standings
NEW YORK (NBA) - Kobe Bryant secured Team USA bragging rights over Paul Pierce by leading the Los Angeles Lakers past the Boston Celtics on Monday.
Bryant had his 20th 40-point game of what has been an outstanding season for him individually as the Lakers won 105-97. The LA star scored 16 of his 43 points in the fourth quarter while counterpart Pierce had just two of his 26 in the final 12 minutes.
Once a marquee fixture in the NBA calendar, the 2006 versions of both franchises are desperately fighting for the play-offs. The Celtics have dropped four games behind Philadelphia for the eighth and final spot in the Eastern Conference, while the Lakers have inched one-half game past Sacramento for the seventh spot in the West.
Bryant was in the 23-man United States squad recently announced by USA Basketball and is thought be a certainty for the team that will play in Japan at the FIBA World Championship this year.
Chauncey Billups and Joe Johnson were also named in the USA group and they faced each other in the Detroit Pistons' 91-84 victory over the Atlanta Hawks.
Billups scored 14 points for the Pistons, who improve to 29-2 at home and 31-8 against Eastern Conference foes, while Johnson contributed 17 for Atlanta, who shot 46% (37 of 79) and made just four of 12 free throws.
Another Team USA player, Elton Brand, had 15 points and three blocks in the Los Angeles Clippers' 99-91 win over the Houston Rickets, who got 25 points and 17 rebounds from China's 7ft 5in giant Yao Ming. The Clips are just three victories from clinching their first winning season since 1978-79.
Australia center Andrew Bogut had 11 points and five rebounds as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Portland Trailblazers 100-93.
By PA Sport
NEW YORK (NBA) - Kobe Bryant secured Team USA bragging rights over Paul Pierce by leading the Los Angeles Lakers past the Boston Celtics on Monday.
Bryant had his 20th 40-point game of what has been an outstanding season for him individually as the Lakers won 105-97. The LA star scored 16 of his 43 points in the fourth quarter while counterpart Pierce had just two of his 26 in the final 12 minutes.
Once a marquee fixture in the NBA calendar, the 2006 versions of both franchises are desperately fighting for the play-offs. The Celtics have dropped four games behind Philadelphia for the eighth and final spot in the Eastern Conference, while the Lakers have inched one-half game past Sacramento for the seventh spot in the West.
Bryant was in the 23-man United States squad recently announced by USA Basketball and is thought be a certainty for the team that will play in Japan at the FIBA World Championship this year.
Chauncey Billups and Joe Johnson were also named in the USA group and they faced each other in the Detroit Pistons' 91-84 victory over the Atlanta Hawks.
Billups scored 14 points for the Pistons, who improve to 29-2 at home and 31-8 against Eastern Conference foes, while Johnson contributed 17 for Atlanta, who shot 46% (37 of 79) and made just four of 12 free throws.
Another Team USA player, Elton Brand, had 15 points and three blocks in the Los Angeles Clippers' 99-91 win over the Houston Rickets, who got 25 points and 17 rebounds from China's 7ft 5in giant Yao Ming. The Clips are just three victories from clinching their first winning season since 1978-79.
Australia center Andrew Bogut had 11 points and five rebounds as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Portland Trailblazers 100-93.
By PA Sport