LOS ANGELES — Kobe Bryant scored 29 of his 40 points in the second half Friday as the Los Angeles Lakers capped an emotional week with a much-needed 111-107 NBA victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. Bryant added seven rebounds and two steals for the Lakers, who have won seven of their last 10 games and stand 3 1/2 games behind the Houston Rockets for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference standings. In an interview with Sports Illustrated published this week, Bryant said he was certain the Lakers would make the playoffs. “It's not a question of if we make the playoffs. We will,” Bryant insisted. The team, which has had more than its share of dysfunctional moments this season, has been through an emotional five days since the death on Monday of 80-year-old owner Jerry Buss. Buss was remembered at the first Lakers game following his death, a 113-99 win over Boston Wednesday. At a memorial service Thursday Bryant challenged his teammates to live up to Buss's standards of excellence. Warriors 107, Spurs 101 (OT): Jarrett Jack had 30 points and 10 assists, David Lee added 25 points and 22 boards, and the Golden State Warriors rallied past the San Antonio Spurs in overtime Friday night to snap a 16-game losing streak in the series. Stephen Curry finished with 18 points and six assists to carry the short-sleeve-wearing Warriors from 13 points down in the fourth quarter. Golden State, playing without center Andrew Bogut, hadn't won against San Antonio since another overtime game at home — all the way back on Jan. 7, 2008. Rockets 106, Nets 96: James Harden and Carlos Delfino each scored 22 points, and Houston tied its longest winning streak against any opponent by beating the Nets for the 13th straight time. Houston blew most of a 15-point lead in the fourth quarter before Delfino hit a big 3-pointer with 1:54 left. He later made another jumper before Harden followed with a 3 to put it away. Delfino made six 3-pointers. Harden, coming off a career-high 46-point game Wednesday against Oklahoma City, made four 3s and finished 7 of 14 from the field. Brook Lopez scored 27 points for the Nets, who played without starting guard Joe Johnson for the first time this season because of plantar fasciitis in his left foot. Deron Williams added 15 points and 13 assists, but shot 5 of 17 as Brooklyn had its four-game winning streak snapped. The Rockets haven't lost to the Nets since March 13, 2006, in Houston. The Rockets also won 13 straight against the Sonics-Thunder franchise (2007-09) and Minnesota (2007-11). Brooklyn missed a chance to tie New York for first place in the Atlantic Division. Bulls 105, Bobcats 75: Taj Gibson scored 17 points on 8-of-11 shooting and Chicago routed Michael Jordan's Charlotte Bobcats. With Jordan looking on from the end of the Charlotte bench, the Bulls jumped out to a 38-19 lead midway through the second quarter and never looked back. Jordan, the Bobcats' owner and former Bulls star, left his seat with about 3 minutes left in the first half and didn't return. The Bulls had failed to score 100 points in their previous six games and were held to 67 by Miami Thursday night, but found their groove against the NBA-worst Bobcats. Carlos Boozer had 10 points and 10 rebounds as eight Bulls finished in double figures. Luol Deng added 14 points, Nate Robinson, Marco Belinelli and Richard Hamilton all had 12, and Joakim Noah finished with 10 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. Kemba Walker had 27 points to lead Charlotte, which shot 33 percent from the field. It was the 10th time this season the Bobcats lost by 20 or more points. Raptors 100, Knicks 98: Rudy Gay scored a season-high 32 points, DeMar DeRozan had 18 and Toronto handed New York its season-worst fourth straight loss. Carmelo Anthony had 32 points and J.R. Smith added 19 for the Knicks, winless since beating Minnesota on Feb. 8. Thunder 127, Timberwolves 111: Russell Westbrook scored 37 points, Kevin Durant added 27 and Oklahoma City snapped a three-game losing streak by beating Minnesota. Pacers 114, Pistons 82: David West scored 18 points, George Hill had 15 and the surging Indiana Pacers beat Detroit. Celtics 113, Suns 88: Jeff Green scored 31 points in his first start of the season as short-handed Boston routed Phoenix. Wizards 119, Nuggets 113: Emeka Okafor had 17 points and 13 rebounds, and Washington put on one of its best offensive shows of the season against Denver. Hawks 122, Kings 108: Al Horford led Atlanta's balanced scoring with 24 points and the Hawks overcame a slow start to beat Sacramento. Grizzlies 88, Magic 82: Marc Gasol had 19 points and 13 rebounds, Zach Randolph added 16 points and 14 boards, and Memphis beat short-handed Orlando for its sixth straight victory. Mavericks 104, Hornets 100: Vince Carter capped a 22-point performance with a 3-pointer that gave Dallas the lead with 6.5 seconds left, and the Mavericks held on to beat New Orleans for their third straight victory. — Agencies
