Bryant, Nash fire up Lakers vs Nuggets

SAN DIEGO – Kobe Bryant had 13 points and five assists while playing 21 minutes as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Denver Nuggets, 98-95, in a preseason game Monday night.

Bryant, back after missing 76 games last season, including the final 57 due to a fractured left knee, shot five-for-12 from the field.

Steve Nash, another Lakers veteran rebounding from injuries, had 11 points and five assists in 20 minutes. Jordan Clarkson led Los Angeles with 14 points.

Ty Lawson scored 14 points to lead Denver.

Bryant missed two of his first three shots, including his first attempt, a 15-footer which just grazed the net. However, he moved easily and had little trouble creating separation from defenders on his shot.

The Nuggets led 54-51 at halftime.

In Chicago, Glen Rice scored 18 points, Marcin Gortat had 13 points and 10 rebounds, and the Washington Wizards beat the Chicago Bulls, 85-81, on Monday night in the preseason opener for both teams.

Chicago’s Joakim Noah and Wizards newcomer Paul Pierce exchanged minor shoves in the game, Derrick Rose’s first in his latest return to NBA action.

Rose, working his way back from two major knee injuries that limited him to 10 games the previous two seasons, had 11 points in 14 first-half minutes for the Bulls. He did not play in the second half.

Bradley Beal added 11 points for the Wizards.

Rookie Nikola Mirotic scored 17 points for the Bulls, who shot 34 percent and had their 12-game preseason winning streak snapped.

Pierce had two points in his first game since joining the Wizards. His hard foul on Jimmy Butler led to him and Noah exchanging words and shoves before Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau stepped between them.

Rose had nine points in the first five minutes of the game and shot 4 of 5, making an explosive fast-break layup where he weaved through two defenders on his way to the basket.

The point guard had struggled with shot during the Basketball World Cup last month in Spain, making just 15 of 59 field goals (25 percent), including 1 for 19 from 3-point range.

In Boston, Evan Turner and Brandon Bass scored 15 points apiece, and the Boston Celtics outscored the Philadelphia 76ers, 21-5, over the first 7 1/2 minutes of the fourth quarter in a 98-78 victory Monday night in the preseason opener for both teams. (AP)