NBA Capsules

 

UNDATED: the postseason.
Lakers 112, SuperSonics 109
SEATTLE (AP) -Kobe Bryant again hit the big shots. But this victory belonged to the Lakers bench.
Amid a mix of “M-V-P” chants and passionate boos, Bryant scored 46 points, 31 in the second half, and the Los Angeles bench added 33 points in the win.
Bryant made 13 of 27 shots, including a 19-footer with 1:41 left that gave the Lakers a 105-103 lead they wouldn’t relinquish. It was Bryant’s 16th game this season of 40 points or more, and the Lakers picked up a crucial victory in their ongoing fight with Denver and the Clippers for the sixth seed in the Western Conference.
Nuggets 75, Mavericks 71
DENVER (AP) – Carmelo Anthony stole Dirk Nowitzki’s skip pass in the closing seconds, then sank two free throws with 9 seconds left, leading Denver.
Anthony, whose alley-oop dunk from Marcus Camby broke a 71-71 tie with just over a minute left, stepped in front of Nowitzki’s crosscourt pass and then drew the foul going to the hoop.
Anthony finished with 23 points and Allen Iverson added 22 as the Nuggets won their fourth straight and prevented the Mavericks from completing a season sweep.
More importantly, it kept them 1 1/2 games ahead of the Los Angeles Clippers in the eighth playoff spot in the West and a probable first-round matchup with the Mavericks.
Kings 107, Jazz 103
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – Kevin Martin had 21 points and John Salmons scored 17 points, including 11 in the final 3:49, to help rally Sacramento.
Relying primarily on the versatile Salmons down the stretch, the Kings outscored Utah 32-21 in the fourth quarter, to snap a four-game losing streak.
Utah, which led by 17 points midway through the third quarter, has dropped two straight and three of four.
END