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Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (L)
fights with Orlando Magic guard Maurice Evans (R) for the loose ball
during first-half NBA basketball action in Orlando, Florida Feb. 8, 2008.
(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
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BEIJING, Feb. 9 -- Kobe Bryant scored 36 points and
Spanish big man Pau Gasol added 30 to spark the Los Angeles Lakers past the
Orlando Magic 117-113 on Friday in a National Basketball Association game.
The Lakers rallied after surrendering a 44-point
opening quarter to Orlando, which had 19 points from Dwight Howard and 17 from
Jameer Nelson.
There was so sign of trouble fvrom a dislocated right
pinky finger that kept Bryant to 4-of-16 shooting in a Wednesday loss at Atlanta
as the Lakers improved to 4-2 on a season-longest nine-game road trip.
Gasol, who joined the team a week ago, provided a
second-half spark and put the Lakers ahead 111-108 with 2:39 remaining on a bank
shot basket off a pass from Bryant.
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Los Angeles Lakers center Pau Gasol of
Spain yells at other Lakers while playing Orlando Magic during first-half
NBA basketball action against the Orlando Magic in Orlando, Florida Feb.
8, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
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Orlando's Hedo Turkoglu responded with four
consecutive points to put the Magic ahead 112-111 but Bryant sank two free
throws after being fouled on a run to the basket to put the Lakers ahead by one.
Howard was called from goaltending on a shot by Lamar
Odom to stretch the Lakers' edge to 115-112 and Odom then blocked a Rashard
Lewis shot. Bryant grabbed the loose ball, was fouled and sank two free throws
with 14 seconds to play.
The Magic led 44-33 after the first quarter with
their season-high in points for any quarter thanks to 18-of-24 shooting from the
field, including an 8-of-11 showing from beyond the 3-point arc.
The Lakers battled back, with Bryant scoring 22 of
his points in the first half and reserve Sasha Vujacic coming off the bench to
score 10 points in the second quarter.
(Source: CRIENGLISH.com/Agency)
