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Mavericks frustrate Kobe, win 12th straight
(AP)
Updated: 2006-02-08 13:52
With so much focus on Bryant, Brian Cook scored a career-high 28 points on
12-of-16 shooting. He became the first player other than Bryant to lead the
Lakers in scoring the past 17 games.
Dallas (38-10) took over the best record in the Western Conference, a
half-game better than idle San Antonio. The Lakers, playing their sixth straight
road game, lost their fourth consecutive game by double figures.
Still, Dallas squandered a 20-point first-half lead, and the Lakers went
ahead for the only time when Lamar Odom made two free throws to make it 66-64
with 2:56 left in the third.
Howard tied the game with a drive for a shot off the glass, then stripped
Bryant of the ball. After a foul away from the ball, Howard drove for another
layup and the Mavericks led the rest of the way.
The consecutive baskets by Howard started a 19-2 run for Dallas, which turned
around the game without a point from Dirk Nowitzki in that spurt. A 3-pointer by
Keith Van Horn made it 83-68 with 9:40 left.
"They embarrassed us in the last meeting, and I thought we took the
challenge," said Nowitzki, who still finished with a team-high 26 points.
Nowitzki made a short hook to put the Mavericks up 40-20 in the second
quarter before the Lakers had an 16-8 run in which Cook made five straight
baskets.
Determined to make an impact after halftime, after getting off just one shot
in the second quarter, Bryant missed two quick shots and also grabbed two
defensive rebounds. And his frustration was obvious.
Even when a foul was called on DeSagana Diop guarding him, Bryant got a
technical for something he said to the official. Bryant then made his two free
throws, the first of eight points he scored in a three-minute stretch to get the
Lakers within 56-53.
Pressed about the officiating after the game, Bryant was careful with his
words, saying "Easy on my piggy bank."
The frustrated Lakers were called for four technical fouls, including a delay
of game when coach Phil Jackson purposely kept them in the huddle after a
timeout. There were also two flagrant fouls.
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