Kobe Bryant scores 31 as Lakers beat Wizards, 108-104

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Lakers forward Kobe Bryant looks on against the Washington Wizards in the first half.

(Rob Carr / Getty Images)

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Wizards guard John Wall drives to the basket past Lakers defender Kobe Bryant in the second half.

(Rob Carr / Getty Images)

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Wizards guard John Wall puts up a shot in front of Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson during the second half.

(Rob Carr / Getty Images)

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Lakers forward Kobe Bryant celebrates after hitting a three pointer late in the fourth quarter against the Wizards.

(Rob Carr / Getty Images)

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Lakers Coach Byron Scott shares a smile with shooting guard Lou Williams during the second half of a game against the Wizards.

(Rob Carr / Getty Images)

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Lakers aging star Kobe Bryant leaves the floor after the Lakers defeated the Washington Wizards 108-104 at the Verizon Center.

(Rob Carr / Getty Images)

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Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) celebrates with teammates D’Angelo Russell and Lou Williams during the second half on Wednesday.

(Rob Carr / Getty Images)

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Lakers forward Kobe Bryant puts up a shot over Wizards guard Bradley Beal in the fourth quarter of the Lakers’ 108-104 win.

(Rob Carr / Getty Images)

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Wizards forward Otto Porter Jr. and Lakers defenders react after Porter loses control of the ball in the first half.

(Rob Carr / Getty Images)

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Lakers star Kobe Bryant waves to the crowd after his upcoming retirement was announced on the video board during the first half.

(Rob Carr / Getty Images)

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Lakers forward Kobe Bryant talks with Wizards guard John Wall during the first half. Bryant scored 31 points while Wall had 34 in the Lakers’ 108-104 win.

(Rob Carr / Getty Images)

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Lakers forward Metta World Peace puts up a shot against the Wizards in the first half.

(Rob Carr / Getty Images)

By Eric Pincus

Dec. 2, 2015 6:55 PM PT

Kobe Bryant showed he still has a little hero left in his game, scoring five points in the final minute to help the Lakers defeat the Wizards, 108-104, on Wednesday night in Washington

With the Lakers playing their fourth game in five nights, and second on an eight-game trip, Bryant scored a season-high 31 points in 35 minutes, making 10 of 24 attempts in one of his best shooting nights of the season.

The Lakers had pulled ahead by 18 points in the second quarter, but the Wizards surged in the second half, taking an 86-82 lead with 8:14 left on the clock.

Showing some fight, the Lakers pushed back ahead 90-87 on a Bryant three-pointer with 5:56 left. John Wall took over for the Wizards, scoring their next 12 points and pushing Washington ahead by a point with just over a minute left.

Bryant responded with a three-pointer, followed by a midrange jumper that electrified the crowd -- happy to say goodbye to the retiring All-Star in what will be his final regular-season appearance in Washington.

Wall kept it interesting, making a three-pointer with 7.9 seconds left to reach 34 points for the game, but a pair of Jordan Clarkson free throws completed the scoring as the Lakers ended a seven-game losing streak.

Clarkson finished with 18 points. Julius Randle scored 15 points with a career-high 19 rebounds. D’Angelo Russell added 13 points, Lou Williams 12 and Brandon Bass 10.

Marcin Gortat had a double-double for Washington, with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Bradley Beal scored 11. Wall had 11 assists and five turnovers.

Coach Byron Scott played nine players, choosing not to give Nick Young any time.

The Lakers (3-15) will next visit the Atlanta Hawks (12-8) on Friday. The Wizards (7-9) host the Phoenix Suns (8-10) on Friday.

Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.

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