Kobe drops in NBA season-high 48, Lakers set Suns, 99-83

Jan 11, 2012, 6:58 GMT

Los Angeles - Kobe Bryant put on a vintage performance Tuesday night, exploding for an NBA season-high 48 points, and the LA Lakers set the visiting Phoenix Suns down 99-83 for their seventh straight home win.

Nick Young and Rashard Lewis scored 15 points apiece, and the Washington Wizards routed the visiting Toronto Raptors 93-78, for their first win of the season after opening with a franchise worst 0-8 start.

Reigning league most valuable player Derrick Rose had 31 points and 11 assists, Luol Deng added 21 points with 11 rebounds, as the visiting Bulls held off the Minnesota Timberwolves, 111-100.

Kevin Love had 20 points and 13 rebounds for Minnesota, which received 13 points and 12 assists from Spanish rookie guard Ricky Rubio.

German juggernaut Dirk Nowitzki hit 9-of-10 shots en route to 18 points, and the reigning NBA Champ Dallas Mavericks (5-5) won for the fourth time in the last five games, while dropping the host Detroit Pistons to their fifth consecutive loss, 100-86.

Elton Brand scored a season-high 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, Evan Turner contributed 16 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, as the surging Philadelphia 76ers (7-2) rolled to their sixth straight victory after crowning the visiting Sacramento Kings, 112-85.

Elsewhere: the Golden State Warriors stormed past the visiting Miami Heat, 111-106 in overtime; the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder tamed the Memphis Grizzlies, 100-95; the host Utah Jazz topped the Cleveland Cavaliers, 113-105; and the visiting Houston Rockets skinned the Charlotte Bobcats, 82-70;

Also, the Milwaukee Bucks surprised the visiting San Antonio Spurs, 106-103; and the Portland Trail Blazers trimmed the visiting LA Clippers, 105-97.