Bryant scores 31 as Lakers beat Wizards 108-104
Kobe Bryant scored 31 points, and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Washington Wizards 108-104 to end a 7-game losing streak.
Bryant’s 16-foot jumper put the Lakers ahead for good with 30 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
The Wizards had the ball down 2 with 30 seconds left, but Lou Williams stole the ball from John Wall, lifting the Lakers’ chance to win from 76% to 80%. A basket would have tied the game.
Jordan Clarkson’s 2 free throws with 5.5 seconds left made it 108-104 and put it away.
During clutch time, the Lakers outscored the Wizards 18-17. Bryant scored 7 of the Lakers’ 18 on 3 for 6 shooting. In the fourth quarter, Williams had 4 of his 7 steals, 2 of them leading to baskets that put the Lakers ahead, and the Lakers scored 8 points off them.
Williams had 12 points and 7 steals off the bench.
For the Wizards, Wall had 34 points and 11 assists. Wall scored 15 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter.
The Lakers grabbed 16 offensive rebounds to the Wizards’ 8. The Wizards turned it over 23 times, about 6 more than usual for this many possessions. They outscored the Lakers 30-16 on the fast break. The Wizards outscored the Lakers 14-4 in 4 minutes with Humphries, Gortat, Wall, Beal and Oubre on the floor together.