LOS ANGELES: Kobe Bryant was given a second shot and this time he cashed in.
Bryant buried a 15-foot fade-away jumper to beat the overtime buzzer, lifting the Los Angeles Lakers to a dramatic 107-106 road victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night.
Bryant had an opportunity to avoid going into overtime but missed a last second 16-footer from the left elbow.
The Lakers trailed by six with 1:25 left in the extra session, until Bryant ran off the final seven points.
With five seconds left, Bryant took the in-bound pass at mid-court, and dribbled to nearly the same spot he missed earlier.
However, this time, the Lakers superstar swished the game-winner over Charlie Bell as the final buzzer sounded.
Bryant raised his hands in the air and was mobbed by his teammates on the court as the defending NBA Champions escaped with their 13th win in the last 14 games.
“I had such a good look (the first time) but I missed it,” said Bryant, who finished with 39 points despite playing his fourth game with a broken right index finger in a splint.
Spaniard Pau Gasol had 26 points with a career-high 22 rebounds for the Lakers (20-4) who moved into a tie with idle Boston for the league’s best mark.
Cleveland Cavaliers 108, Philadelphia 76ers 101: LeBron James scored 13 of his 36 points in the final quarter, Mo Williams hit the go-ahead basket and a key three in a late 12-2 run, as the Cavs sent the Sixers to their 13th loss in the last 14 games Andre Iguodala paced host Philadelphia (6-19) with 26 points
Denver Nuggets 111, Houston Rockets 101: Carmelo Anthony scored 38 points, and the Nuggets overcame the loss of star guard Chauncey Billups (groin strain) in the third quarter to improve to 12-1 at home Aaron Brooks netted 23 points for Houston (14-11) which had its three-game run stopped.
Orlando Magic 118, Toronto Raptors 99: Rashard Lewis scored 21, Dwight Howard had 18 with 14 rebounds and eight blocks, and the Magic made 14-of-30 three-pointers to beat the visiting Raptors.
Atlanta Hawks 110, Memphis Grizzlies 97: Joe Johnson scored 26 points, Al Horford had 15 with 10 rebounds, leading the host Hawks to their fifth straight victory. Sam Young topped Memphis (10-15) with 20 points.
Utah Jazz 108, New Jersey Nets 92: Carlos Boozer collected 26 points and 10 rebounds, Deron Williams had 20 points and 14 assists, leading the visiting Jazz to its eighth win in the last 10 games.
Brook Lopez led league-worst New Jersey (2-24) with 23 points and 10 rebounds.
Dallas Mavericks 100, Oklahoma City Thunder 86: Germany’s Dirk Nowitzki had 35 points with 11 rebounds, and the visiting Mavericks (19-7) held the NBA’s third-leading scorer Kevin Durant to 12 points on 4-of-18 shooting to storm past the Thunder.
New Orleans Hornets 95, Detroit Pistons 87: David West had a season-high 32 points with 12 rebounds, Chris Paul added 16 points and 12 assists, as the Hornets erased a 16-point deficit.
Rodney Stuckey topped Detroit (11-14) with 26 points.
San Antonio Spurs 103, Golden State Warriors 91: Tim Duncan had 27 points with 15 rebounds, Richard Jefferson scored 17, and the visiting Spurs (13-10) beat the Warriors for the seventh straight time despite 35 points by Monta Ellis.
Sacramento Kings 112, Washington Wizards 109: Tyreke Evans scored 26 points, including two free throws with 3.4 seconds left after stealing the ball from Gilbert Arenas, and the Kings (11-13) sent the Wizards to their sixth straight loss by 14 points.
Indiana Pacers 101, Charlotte Bobcats 98: Troy Murphy had 26 points with 15 rebounds, T.J. Ford added 15 and 13 assists, leading the host Pacers (9-14) to their third win in the last four outings. Gerald Wallace had 29 points with 12 rebounds for Charlotte (10- 14), which fell to 1-11 on the road.
LA Clippers 120, Minnesota Timberwolves 95: Eric Gordon scored 25 points, Chris Kaman had 23 with 10 rebounds, and the Clippers (11-13) tamed the host T-Wolves for the third time this season Kevin Love collected 19 points and 12 rebounds for Minnesota (4- 22) denied its first winning streak of the season.
