LEAD: Kobe drops in NBA season-high 48, Lakers set Suns, 98-83

By Paul Levine Jan 11, 2012, 8:32 GMT

Los Angeles - Kobe Bryant put on another vintage performance Tuesday night, erupting for an NBA-season-high 48 points as the LA Lakers set the visiting Phoenix Suns, 99-83.

'He's the best player in the world,' said Suns All-Star guard Steve Nash, who finished with 12 points and eight assists. 'You come to expect that type of performance from him. He does it regularly throughout the season and he was phenomenal tonight.'

Bryant hit 18-of-31 shots and 12-of-13 free throws for his 108th career game of 40 or more points despite playing with a torn ligament in his right shooting wrist.

'You have to figure out a way to get it done,' he said. 'There's no time to make excuses. If I play bad or have one bad game, everybody cries for a change or cries for the fact I'm too old. It's just a bad game with a bad wrist. Nobody wants to hear that, so I make adjustments and go from there.'

Spanish big man Pau Gasol had 16 points and 12 caroms for the Lakers (7-4), who won their seventh in a row at home behind Bryant's heroics.

'It was an excellent performance on his part,' said Gasol of Bryant. 'He was really aggressive, shot the ball extremely well, made big plays and stayed with it pretty much throughout the 48 minutes.'

Channing Frye scored 17 points while Marcin Gortat had 16 and 12 boards for the Suns, who had won three of its last four contests before being victimized by Bryant.

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

Golden State Warriors 111, Miami Heat 106 (OT): Newcomer Nate Robinson scored 24 points, Dorell Wright added 20, including the go-ahead three pointer in overtime, and the Warriors stopped a five-game slide after upsetting the visiting Heat.

Dwyane Wade led Miami with a season-best 34 points after missing the last four games with a bruised left foot. LeBron James finished with 26 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds.

Dallas Mavericks 100, Detroit Pistons 86: German juggernaut Dirk Nowitzki hit nine of 10 shots en route to 18 points, and the reigning NBA Champion Mavericks (5-5) won their fourth in the last five games, while sending the host Pistons to their fifth straight loss.

Oklahoma City Thunder 100, Memphis Grizzlies 95: Russell Westbrook scored 30 points, while Kevin Durant had 22 points with 11 rebounds, leading the visiting Thunder to its fourth straight win.

Spanish centre Marc Gasol led the Grizzlies with 20 points and 14 rebounds.

Milwaukee Bucks 106, San Antonio Spurs 103: Stephen Jackson scored 34 points and Brandon Jennings hit a key basket in the final minute, as the Bucks edged the visiting Spurs, to snap a five-game slide.

Australian centre Andrew Bogut had 14 points and 11 rebounds for Milwaukee, after returning home the last four games due to personal issues.

Frenchman Tony Parker tallied 22 points for San Antonio, which lost its second in a row after Richard Jefferson missed a potential game tying three in the closing seconds.

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

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

Philadelphia 76ers 112, Sacramento Kings 85: Elton Brand scored a season-high 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, while Evan Turner contributed 16 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, as the host Sixers rolled to their sixth straight victory.

Houston Rockets 82, Charlotte Bobcats 70: Rookie Chandler Parsons scored 20 points, and the Rockets rolled to their first road win of the season to snap a four-game slide overall.

Utah Jazz 113, Cleveland Cavaliers 105: Al Jefferson powered for a season-high 30 points with 12 rebounds, and the host Jazz beat the Cavs for its fifth straight victory.

Portland Trail Blazers 105, LA Clippers 97: Gerald Wallace scored 20 points to pace five players in double figures, and the Trail Blazers held off the Clippers, to improve to 6-0 at home this season.