Lakers move above .500 with overtime victory against the Raptors

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant spins past Raptors forwrd Rudy Gay on a drive to the basket in the first half Friday night at Staples Center. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times / March 8, 2013)

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Photos: Lakers vs. Raptors

By Barry Stavro

March 8, 2013, 10:30 p.m.

Lakers 118, Raptors 116 OT (final)

It took 3 1/2 months, and an overtime period on Friday, but the Lakers are over .500 again.

The Lakers (32-31) beat Toronto, 118-116, at Staples Center on Friday night, thanks primarily to Kobe Bryant.

The All-Star guard scored 41 points, including a two-handed dunk over DeMar DeRozan to give the Lakers a 117-115 lead with 10.6 seconds to go. Bryant also led the Lakers with 12 assists.

Rudy Gay missed a 15-footer at the buzzer to seal the Lakers’ win.

The Lakers trailed for most of the game before Bryant hit a three-pointer with 4.4 seconds left to tie the score at 109. Gay also missed a jumper at the buzzer for Toronto in regulation that could have won the game.

Dwight Howad had 24 pionts and 13 rebounds while Steve Nash added 22 points for the Lakers.

DeRozan led the Raptors with 28 points.

Lakers 109, Raptors 109 (end of regulation)

Kobe Bryant hit a three-pointer from the right wing with 4.4 seconds left to tie the score at 109.

He made three three-pointers in the final two minutes as the Lakers overcame a six-point deficit.

Bryant has 37 points as the game heads into overtime.

Rudy Gay had a chance to give the Raptors the victory, but he missed an 18-footer from the wing as time expired.

Raptors 89, Lakers 79 (end of third quarter)

The Raptors padded their lead in the third quarter as DeMar DeRozan continued to dominate on the offensive end. He’s missed only two of 12 shots and leads Toronto with 22 points, while Rudy Gay has scored 17.

Kobe Bryant hit consecutive three-pointers, then stole the ball from Gay for layup to cut the Raptors’ lead to 83-73 with 3 1/2 minutes in the quarter.

Bryant had 11 points in the quarter and has 22 in the game.

The Raptors led by double digits for much of the quarter, when Dwight Howard also missed four consecutive free throws.

Raptors 59, Lakers 53 (halftime)

The Raptors shot 57.8% in the first half, with 15 points coming on fastbreaks.

But once Kobe Bryant returned to the game with about five minutes left in the second quarter, the Lakers cut into the Raptors’ double-digit lead.

Comments (4)

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Straight Shot at 3:57 PM March 09, 2013

These last two games has had a playoff feel to them. Tremendous closeouts in both games. Although, they are playing up hill most of the time, which is very difficult coming from behind, they won. I will like to see them take the lead and maintain it through the course of the game. I think that pressures the opposing team and the Lakers save energy. Saving energy and reducing players playing time has to be a coaching concern. The obvious answer: go deeper in your bench.

However, that hasn't happened Coach "D" if anything hasn't shortened his rotation which can come back to bite him in the playoffs, if they make it. The trick: go deeper in your bench and not have it affect the overall team performance. Is that possible, I don't think so?

I love the energy and passion shown on defense in both games. Overall team chemistry is much better. This team is peaking at the right time. Observers throughout the league and fans have taken notice, the Lake Show is real. Third quarter team performance in both games were dismal and poor which explained both 20 points + leads in 4th quarter. You can come back against the Hornets and Raptors but a San Antonio or Thunder matchup, forget it.

TomHicks at 11:43 PM March 08, 2013

Amazing close-out of regulation by Kobe. This season hasn't gone as planned, but these last two games were exciting.

sergitoramon at 9:17 PM March 08, 2013

More pain.

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