Bryant scores 32 as Lakers beat Nets 99-92

NEWARK, NJ (AP):

When the New Jersey Nets refused to let Kobe Bryant beat them with his shooting, the perennial Los Angeles Lakers All-Star did them in with a couple of little passes.

After that, all Bryant wanted to do was complain about how the Lakers are playing.

Bryant scored 25 of his 32 points in the second half and set up Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom for easy baskets in a late eight-point run that led the Lakers to a 99-92 victory over the New Jersey Nets on Sunday.

"I thought we did a better job of spreading it out and making the better pass down the stretch," said Bryant, who forced the Nets to double-team him late by scoring 14 points in the fourth quarter. "We can't just stand around and wait. We have to cut and move the ball. We were moving the ball better and got the win. We have to move and take advantage of what they give us."

While the Lakers (17-7) did that late against the struggling Nets, they have been in a funk, winning only six of their last 11 games.

"We have to muster up the energy and muster up the motivation to play every night," Bryant said. "I'm (annoyed) about it. We're not doing a good job of doing it. Today, we read the defence and made the right plays."

Odom had five of his 22 points in the late spurt and Gasol had the other three in capping a 15-point, 11-rebound effort that led the Lakers to their sixth straight win over New Jersey.

Brook Lopez had 25 points and nine rebounds for the Nets, who have lost seven straight and nine of 11. Devin Harris added 16 points and 10 assists and Kris Humphries had 11 points and 11 rebounds.

"They executed and we didn't," said Harris, who played despite hurting his shoulder in Dallas on Thursday. "We missed a ton of shots at the rim, shots we normally make just didn't go down for us."

Odom isn't worried about the Lakers, saying every team struggles at times.

"We can't be great every single night," Odom said. "But it's just the way we've been going for the last 10 to 15 games. We get a lead, give it away and have to fight back. We're not playing to our potential. Not taking anything away from the Nets, but we're just not playing well right now. It's a little disappointing."

Eight-game winning streak

Meanwhile, Amare Stoudemire scored 24 of his 30 points in the second half, Wilson Chandler made the tie-breaking three-pointer with 30 seconds left, and the New York Knicks beat the Denver Nuggets 129-125 on Sunday night for their first eight-game winning streak in 16 years.

Stoudemire set a franchise record with his eighth straight 30-point game.

Winning for the 13th time in 14 games, the Knicks have won eight straight for the first time since December 27, 1994-January 13, 1995. At 16-9, they are off to their best start after 25 games since they were 18-7 in 1996-97.

Chandler scored 27 points and Raymond Felton had 19 points and a season-high 17 assists. Rookie Landry Fields scored 18 points and Danilo Gallinari had 16 for the Knicks.

Carmelo Anthony had 31 points and 13 rebounds in his return to the Nuggets' line-up after missing two games with an inflamed right knee. Nene added 26 points.

Spurs 95, Trail Blazers 78

George Hill scored 22 points and San Antonio Spurs won their fifth straight to become the NBA's first 20-game winner this season, as they beat Portland Trail Blazers.

76ers 88, Hornets 70

André Iguodala and Lou Williams sparked a 17-2 run spanning the first and second quarters that catapulted Philadelphia 76ers to their fifth win in seven games, with an 88-70 win over New Orleans Hornets.

Williams finished with 17 points, Elton Brand had 15 points and 13 rebounds for his eighth double-double of the season and Iguodala had 16 points and 10 assists.

Magic 94, Clippers 85

Dwight Howard scored 22 points to help Orlando Magic snap skids of four games overall and three straight on the road, with a 94-85 success over Los Angeles Clippers. Jameer Nelson added 17 points, Vince Carter 13, and Brandon Bass had 13 points and a career high-tying 11 rebounds for his first double-double of the season.

Thunder 106, Cavaliers 77

Kevin Durant scored 25 points and Jeff Green and James Harden added 19 apiece as Oklahoma City Thunder sent Cleveland Cavalier to its eighth straight loss.