LEAD: Fisher fires in game-winning three as Lakers edge Mavericks

By Paul Levine Jan 17, 2012, 8:36 GMT

Los Angeles - Derek Fisher wasn't the first option but the veteran shot-maker proved to be the right one.

Fisher fired in the tie-breaking three-pointer with 3.1 seconds remaining, lifting the LA Lakers to a dramatic 73-70 home-court victory over the reigning NBA Champion Dallas Mavericks on Monday night.

'It's never the first option but my teammates have trusted me over the years,' said Fisher, who finished with 13 points. 'And playing with Kobe (Bryant), that's the benefit of playing with great players, you're always open down the stretch.'

With both clubs struggling to score points, Dallas knotted the game at 70-70 on Jason Terry's floater in the lane with nine ticks to go.

Following a 20-second timeout, Bryant got the ball above the free throw line before sending a pass over to Fisher on the right wing, and the 37-year-old delivered his signature high-arching left-handed jumper over late-arriving Dirk Nowitzki.

'It's what I do,' Fisher said. 'When opportunities like that present themselves, you know, I'm confident in my abilities to just step up and make the right play, whether it's making the shot or making the read that creates something for someone else.'

'You have to give him credit,' Nowitzki said. 'It was a heck of a heck of a shot by him, and that's what he does, he makes game-winning shots.'

The Mavericks had a final shot to send the contest into overtime but Vince Carter's three-point try banged off the back of the basket, ending their five-game winning streak.

Andrew Bynum had 17 points and 15 rebounds for the Lakers, who won for the sixth time in the last seven games. Bryant finished with 14 points on a frosty 7-of-22 shooting, ending his run of four consecutive games with more than 40 points.

Nowitzki scored 21 points for the Mavericks while former Laker Lamar Odom added 10 off the bench in his first visit to Staples Center since being dealt to Dallas just before the start of the season.

Elsewhere: Memphis Grizzlies 102, Chicago Bulls 86: Rudy Gay scored 24 points, Spaniard Marc Gasol had 19 points with 10 rebounds, and the host Grizzlies roared past the short-handed Bulls for their third straight victory.

The Bulls, who had their five-game winning streak snapped, were without reigning league most valuable player Derrick Rose, out with a lingering toe problem.

Oklahoma City Thunder 97, Boston Celtics 88: Kevin Durant scored 28 points, Russell Westbrook added 26, including a game-sealing three-pointer with 51 seconds remaining, and the league-best Thunder (12-2) won its seventh in a row while sending the sliding Celtics to their fifth consecutive setback.

Orlando Magic, 102, New York Knicks 93: Ryan Anderson hit seven of Orlando's 17 three-pointers en route to a career-high 30 points, JJ Redick added 21, and the Magic completed a 4-0 road trip after knocking off the Knicks, who received 33 points from Carmelo Anthony.

LA Clippers 101, New Jersey Nets 101: Blake Griffin collected 23 points and 14 rebounds, Chauncey Billups and Caron Butler scored 20 apiece, and the Clippers minus All-Star guard Chris Paul (left hamstring strain), cruised past the visiting Nets for their third straight win.

Philadelphia 76ers 94, Milwaukee Bucks 82: Jrue Holiday scored a season-high 24 points while Andre Iguodala added 21 and the surging Sixers rolled to their ninth win in the last 10 games while keeping dropping the Bucks to 0-8 on the road this season.

Atlanta Hawks 93, Toronto Raptors 84: Josh Smith had 28 points and 15 rebounds, Joe Johnson scored 27 and the hosting Hawks won their third in a row while sending the Raptors to their fifth consecutive loss.

Portland Trail Blazers 84, New Orleans Hornets 77: LaMarcus Aldridge scored 22 points, Nicolas Batum added 19 as the visiting Trail Blazers stopped a three-game slide while handing the Hornets their sixth straight home loss and fourth in a row overall.

Houston Rockets 114, Washington Wizards 106: Kevin Martin scored 25 points, Samuel Dalembert had 20 and the visiting Rockets overcame John Wall's career-high 38-point effort for their third straight win while dropping the Wizards to a league-worst 1-12 record.

Cleveland Cavaliers 102, Charlotte Bobcats 94: Rookie Kyrie Irving scored 25 points, Antawn Jamison added 20, and the Cavaliers rallied from 14 down in the third quarter, to beat the Bobcats, who got 24 points from DJ Augustin.

Minnesota Timberwolves 99, Sacramento Kings 86 Kevin Love had 33 points and 11 rebounds, Luke Ridnour added 25 points with nine assists, as the Timberwolves used a big second half to pull away from the visiting Kings and stop a three-game slide.