NBA Today - March 17
Sat, Mar 17, 2007
By Associated Press
SCOREBOARD
Saturday, March 17
Atlanta at Indiana (7 p.m. EDT). The Pacers, riding an 11-game losing streak, are still in the hunt for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
STARS Friday
- Kobe Bryant, Lakers, scored 33 of his 65 points in the fourth quarter and overtime to lead Los Angeles to a 116-111 win over Portland.
-Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks, scored 30 points, 19 in the final quarter to lead Dallas over Boston 106-101.
THAT'S 65
Kobe Bryant's 65 points Friday night in the Lakers' 116-111 overtime defeat of Portland was the second highest-scoring game of Bryant's career and his third with 60 or more points - including an 81-point outing against Toronto on Jan. 22, 2006 at Staples Center. He also had 62 against Dallas on Dec. 20, 2005, at Los Angeles. The All-Star MVP had 15 games with 50 or more points, including four this season. The Lakers are 11-4 when he cracks the 50-point plateau.
HOT, HOT HEAT
Miami extended the NBA's longest current winning streak to nine games with a 103-97 victory over Sacramento on Friday night.
PLAYOFF BUZZ
New Orleans snapped a six-game losing streak with a 92-90 victory over the New York Knicks on Friday night. The Hornets came back from an 18-point deficit and got a much-needed victory in their quest for a playoff spot. New Orleans is only a game out of a tie for eighth in the Western Conference.
SPEAKING
''The Eagles need to look into that. It was great. It was probably a foul. It was a great screen, I was wide open and it was all due to Sam.'' - Philadelphia's Kyle Korver on the physical pick set by Samuel Dalembert that enabled Korver to sink the winning basket with 5.1 second left in the 76ers' 89-88 win over Utah on Friday night.
Sonics Luke Ridnour will start tonight after missing the last five games due to a herniated disc in his neck.
Celtics Ryan Gomes is doubtful (ankle), and is not expected to play tonight.