Kobe Bryant poured in a game-high 38 points and added seven assists to propel his Los Angeles Lakers past Canadian star Steve Nash and the visiting Phoenix Suns 122-115 on Christmas Day.
Nash, the NBA assists leader, was in his usual giving mood, handing out a game-best 14 dimes to go with his team-high 24 points. But the Victoria native's efforts weren't enough to prevent Phoenix (19-9) from losing for the second time in two meetings this season with the Lakers (18-10).
Kobe Bryant, centre, takes time to cheer on his teammates from the bench during the Lakers' 122-115 Christmas Day win over visiting Phoenix. Bryant led all scorers with 38 points.
(Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
Bryant poured in 26 points in the second half alone to move into second spot behind Oscar Robertson on the league's all-time list of Christmas Day scorers.
The star guard, who has complained in the past about a lack of support from his teammates, also got plenty of help from Andres Bynum's career-high 28 points and 12 rebounds as red-hot Los Angeles won for the 11th time in 15 tries to move within a game of Phoenix for first place in the Pacific Division.
"We're getting better. It's just about getting better each day," Bryant said. "It's good to have games like this. We have a solid foundation, we really do. When you play against Phoenix, you have to be solid."
Bynum, the 20-year-old centre who was famously badmouthed by Bryant in an angry rant caught on amateur video over the summer, shot a sizzling 11-of-13 from the field. He left the game with 11.5 seconds to play to a roar of approval from the Staples Center crowd of 18,997 and a hand slap from Bryant.
"The best thing about it is he's put in so much work over the summer and now," Bryant said of Bynum. "The biggest thing for him is he's seeing results. The sky's the limit for him."
Lamar Odom (15 points, 14 rebounds) chipped in a double-double of his own for the Lakers, while Trevor Ariza scored 14 points and grabbed seven boards in his first start since being acquired from Orlando last month.
Amaré Stoudemire had 19 points for the Suns, while Raja Bell and Shawn Marion contributed 15 apiece. Marion also pulled down 10 rebounds to join Nash as the only Suns to register a double-double on the evening.
With files from the Associated PressRelated
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