Sixers, Williams spoil Kobe's milestone night

Feb 7, 2012, 6:48 GMT

Los Angeles - Lou Williams spoiled Kobe Bryant's milestone night.

Williams exploded for 14 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter, including the go-ahead triple with two minutes left, sparking the Philadelphia Sixers past the visiting LA Lakers 95-90 on Monday night for their sixth win in the last seven games.

Bryant scored 24 of his 28 points in the opening half to vault him past former Lakers teammate Shaquille O'Neal as the NBA's fifth all-time leading scorer. The 14-time All-Star now has 28,601 points with Wilt Chamberlain in fourth with 31,419 points.

With the Sixers trailing by two Williams took over. He scored all of his team's points in a 9-2 closing run, sealing their first win over the Lakers in the last five meetings.

Andrew Bynum had 20 points and 20 rebounds for the Lakers, who dropped to 14-11 overall and 3-9 on the road.

Little-used guard Jeremy Lin had a career-high 28 points with eight assists in his first career start, Steve Novak scored a season-best 19, and the New York Knicks beat the visiting Utah Jazz, 99-88, despite the absence of Amar'e Stoudemire and the early injury loss of fellow-All-Star Carmelo Anthony.

Stoudemire flew home to be with his family in Florida after older brother Hazell was killed there earlier Monday in a car crash. Anthony, meanwhile, left midway through the first quarter with a right groin strain.

Carlos Boozer scored 24 points, C.J. Watson had 14 points and 10 assists and the visiting Chicago Bulls routed the New Jersey Nets, 108-87, but lost reigning league most valuable player Derrick Rose in the first half because of back spasms.

Elsewhere: the visiting LA Clippers overcame the Orlando Magic 107-102 in overtime; the visiting Phoenix Suns clipped the Atlanta Hawks, 99-90; the visiting Houston Rockets rolled the Denver Nuggets 99-90; and the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder trimmed the Portland Trail Blazers 111-107 in overtime.

Also, the Washington Wizards topped the visiting Toronto Raptors 111-108 in overtime; the visiting San Antonio Spurs tamed the Memphis Grizzlies 89-84; and the visiting Sacramento Kings rallied past the struggling New Orleans Hornets 100-92.