Kobe, Lakers outgun Sixers

Jan 1, 2007, 6:00 GMT

Los Angeles, CA - Kobe Bryant scored 35 points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out six assists as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Philadelphia 76ers, 104-94, at the Staples Center, overcoming an injury to starting center Kwame Brown.

Brown went down early in the third quarter with a severely sprained left ankle. The injury occurred when he blocked a layup by Andrew Miller, but then turned his ankle after landing on Miller's foot.

Brown looked to be in a considerable amount of pain while play continued and was eventually assisted to the locker room. It was reported after the game that x-rays on the ankle were inconclusive and Brown will undergo further tests on Monday.

Smush Parker added 12 points, while Luke Walton was the final Lakers' player in double figures, contributing 11 points and seven rebounds. Los Angeles has won four of its last six contests.

Kyle Korver scored a season-high 29 points and grabbed eight rebounds for Philadelphia, which has lost three of four and 19 of its last 23 games. Andre Iguodala netted 19 points, pulled down eight rebounds and had six assists, while Andre Miller added 13 points and eight assists.

Both teams played it close in the opening minutes before a pair of Walton free throws put the Lakers on top, 14-12, at 5:57 in the first quarter.

Los Angeles went on to outscore Philadelphia 14-6 over the next six minutes and led 26-18 heading into the second stanza.

The Sixers battled back and grabbed a one-point lead, 34-33, on Miller's driving layup with 2:54 to play in the half. The Lakers responded by outscoring Philadelphia 12-4 down the stretch behind the strong shooting of Bryant. The superstar guard made four of LA's final five baskets of the half and the Lakers held a 46-38 margin at the break.

Bryant combined with Andrew Bynum to put on another offensive display at the end of the third quarter.

He made three consecutive jump shots to give the Lakers a 74-60 edge at 2:57, before Bynum followed with a couple of free throws and a slam dunk. Bryant closed things out with a layup and a three-pointer, while the Sixers made just two field goals in the final six minutes and trailed 83-68 going into the fourth.

Bryant missed on all three shots attempted in the final quarter, but the 76ers never pulled closer than ten the rest of the way.

'I felt pretty good tonight,' said Bryant. 'I was on cruise control for the first half, and I didn't turn it up until the third quarter. The third quarter was important because we didn't want them to get back into the game.'

Game Notes

Chris Webber missed his second straight game and sixth of the last nine because of a bruised right foot. The 76ers are now 1-11 without him in the lineup this season.

Bynum finished with five points on the night.

There were four lead changes in the game.

The Lakers outrebounded the 76ers, 48-43.

© 2007 The Sports Network