Vince Carter scored 25 points, Dwight Howard had 15 and 16 rebounds as the host Magic held off a hard charge to send the suddenly slumping defending NBA champions to their first three-game losing streak of the season, 96-94 on Sunday.
"They beat us last year in the Finals and we wanted to show them they're not going to beat us anymore," said Howard of the chippy, physical contest. "We came out tonight, it was a tough battle, but we came out with the win."
Jameer Nelson had 15 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, while Rashard Lewis hit four threes en route to 12 points for Orlando (44-20) which has won five in a row.
"They had lost two in a row, and you knew Kobe (Bryant) was going to go after it, so you knew you were going to have a tough time today," Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. "I thought we battled them toe-to-tie very hard."
Bryant scored 34 points, Pau Gasol had 20 with 11 rebounds but the Lakers (46-18) have their first three-game losing streak since January 23-27 2008, a month before acquiring the Spanish star from Memphis.
"I'm worried about what we can do to win ball games," Gasol said.
"I'm not worried about streaks."
Orlando led by as many as 12 in the third quarter, but Bryant erupted for 18 fourth-quarter points, including a three from the left elbow with 12.9 seconds left that appeared to knot the score at 95-apiece. However, officials reviewed the replay and changed it to a two, because his foot was clearly on the arc, leaving the Lakers behind by one.
"I was sitting on that play the whole game," Bryant said. "I got exactly what I wanted. My (darn) toe."
Carter was intentionally fouled out of a timeout with 9.7 seconds remaining. After sinking his first dozen from the stripe, the 83 percent free throw shooter missed the first, but made the second.
It opened the door for Bryant, who has rescued the Lakers with six game-winners this season.
Bryant received the ball, and with Matt Barnes in his face, launched a 20-foot jumper that would have sent the game into overtime. Instead, it banged off the rim and the Magic escaped with the win.
"We had a tough fourth quarter the last couple of minutes," Howard said. "Oh man, when it left his hands I was like please don't make that shot. I'm just glad he missed it."
Despite finishing 0-3 on their road trip, Bryant was encouraged with the Lakers' latest effort.
"In Miami, we didn't play hard enough; Charlotte, same thing," Bryant said.
"Today we competed. I think we have to take this mind set, take this attitude and push it forth for the remainder of the season and (understand) that if we play with this effort it's really, really hard to beat us."
Thaddeus Young poured in a career-high 32 points, Jrue Holiday had 21 and the visiting Sixers (23-39) snapped six-game slide.
Jarrett Jack had 20 points with nine assists, All-Star Chris Bosh had 12 points and 12 boards after missing six games because of a left ankle sprain and another on Friday with a stomach virus as Toronto (32-29) lost for the fifth time in the last six games.
Tayshaun Prince had a season-high 29 points with 10 rebounds, Richard Hamilton scored 22 and the host Pistons (22-41) stopped a six-game slide.
Kevin Martin led Houston (31-31) scored 27 points, but missed the potential-game-tying three with two seconds left in overtime. Aaron Brooks added 25 points, while Argentine-native Luis Scola had 20 and 15 boards.
Ray Allen scored eight of his 25 points in a 20-4 closing run, including the go-ahead three with 17 seconds remaining, and the host Celtics (40-21) rallied from 13 down for their fourth straight win.
Al Thornton topped Washington (21-39) with 24 points, but missed a game-tying three at the buzzer.
Kevin Durant scored 27 points, Russell Westbrook had 13 of his 21 in the final quarter and the visiting Thunder (38-24) earned its 13th win in the last 17 games.
Tyreke Evans had 24 points, Carl Landry followed with 20 as Sacramento (21-42) lost for the eighth time in the last 11 outings.
Carmelo Anthony scored 30 points, J.R. Smith added 22 off the bench and Chauncey Billups had 21 as the Nuggets (42-21) improved to 28-5 at home.
Jerryd Bayless had 24 points for Portland (37-28) which had its three-game winning streak snapped.
