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Sunday, Dec. 19 3:00pm ET
Lakers avenge loss to Raptors | |||||
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 GAME FLOW
TORONTO (AP) -- With Kobe Bryant back, the Los Angeles Lakers weren't about to lose again to the Toronto Raptors. Bryant scored 26 points and Shaquille O'Neal had 24 points and 15 rebounds as the Lakers won their sixth straight game Sunday with a 94-88 victory over the struggling Raptors.
Toronto beat the Lakers at Los Angeles on Nov. 21. "They're more confident with Kobe back," Vince Carter said. "They just outscored us and we didn't defend like we should have." Glen Rice added 22 points for the Lakers, who have won 13 of 14 and own the NBA's best record (21-5). The Raptors continue to make highlight plays, but have lost three straight and five of six. "They are so explosive, and to beat them here is something," said Bryant, who missed the Lakers first 15 games with a broken right hand. The Lakers led by as many as 19, but the Raptors went on a 14-3 run late in the fourth quarter, to close within four, as Carter, who had 29 points, made two free throws with 1:25 remaining. But Bryant followed with a jumper in traffic to give the Lakers an 86-80 lead with just over a minute left. Bryant then fouled Carter, who again made both free throws. Toronto's Dee Brown fouled Ron Harper, who made his two attempts to build the lead back to six points. After a crossover, Carter made a reverse lay-up with 44.7 seconds remaining to make it 88-84. But Bryant hit two more free throws and after a Tracy McGrady miss and an O'Neal rebound, Bryant made one of two free throws to give the Lakers 91-86 lead. "We just ran out of time," Carter said. Following an Antonio Davis dunk, O'Neal clinched the game by making two free throws with just over 10 seconds left to make it 93-86. "Everything they threw up in L.A. went in," O'Neal said of the Raptors. "They just didn't make as many shots today." Rice had 15 points in the first quarter as the Lakers led 30-17. The Raptors closed within eight in the second quarter on Dell Curry's three pointer, but the Lakers finished the half on a 10-0 run. Bryant made a driving lay-up and a 12-foot jumper. After Rice hit a short jumper, A.C. Green grabbed an errant pass by Dee Brown. O'Neal followed with a dunk, and Bryant's short jumper with 21 seconds left in the half gave the Lakers a 52-34 lead. "It was important to set the tone early," Bryant said. "We didn't force our shots." Davis had 19 points and 16 rebounds for Toronto. "There is no need to panic," Carter said. "There is too much talent and confidence in this room for us to be playing like this."
Game notes | ALSO SEE NBA Scoreboard LA Lakers Clubhouse Toronto Clubhouse RECAPS LA Lakers 94 Toronto 88
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