Bryant leads Lakers assault on Pelicans

NEW ORLEANS – Kobe Bryant scored 27 points, hitting three pivotal 3-pointers in the last six-plus minutes, and the Los Angeles Lakers won their second straight, 99-96, over the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday night.

Bryant, who scored a season-high 38 points at Minnesota two nights earlier, held his follow-through as his final 3 went through with a minute left to put the Lakers up 98-92, then wagged his index finger as if to say, “Don’t doubt me,” as he jogged back up court with a good portion of the crowd cheering wildly.

Bryant, who also grabbed 12 rebounds, missed a free throw with six seconds left that allowed the Pelicans a chance to tie the game with a 3, but Jrue Holiday’s shot missed the rim as time expired.

Anthony Davis had 39 points and 11 rebounds for the Pelicans, but his missed breakaway dunk in the fourth quarter seemed to define the night for New Orleans, which lost its third straight.

In other results, Detroit held off New York, 111-105; Houston thwarted Phoenix, 111-105; and Toronto trounced Portland, 110-103.

Back in New Orleans, the Pelicans missed a couple of dunks among a number of misses from short range. They also missed 12 of 26 free throws.

There were smatterings of purple and gold throughout the stands – only a small minority of it LSU gear. Lakers fans who wanted to honor Bryant in his final season showed up and made themselves heard with cheers that filled the arena each time Bryant checked into the game and when he hit shots. At one point in the first half, an “M-V-P!” chant broke out with Bryant on the foul line.

The cheers that erupted after his late baskets seemed somewhat bizarre, given that they spoiled the home team’s frantic attempt to come back from a 12-point, fourth-quarter deficit.

Jordan Clarkson scored 18 points for the Lakers, who’d lost 10 straight before beating the Timberwolves and Pelicans this week. D’Angelo Russell added 13 points and Julius Randle 11.