NBA: The Los Angeles Lakers edge out the Dallas Mavericks
A superb display from Kobe Bryant helped the Los Angeles Lakers clinch a 103-99 win over the Dallas Mavericks.
Last Updated: 25/02/13 7:34am
Bryant impressed with 38 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists, while Dirk Nowitzki made 30 points in a losing cause.
Western Conference leaders the San Antonio Spurs suffered an upset as they lost 97-87 to the Phoenix Suns.
The Spurs were made to pay for resting the likes of Tony Parker and Gary Neal, leaving Kawhi Leonard and Patty Mills to score 16 points each.
Northwest Division front-runners Oklahoma City Thunder dished out an emphatic 102-72 thumping of the Chicago Bulls, while Eastern Conference leaders the Miami Heat defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 109-105, with LeBron James scoring 28 points.
Atlantic markers the New York Knicks ended a run of four losses in a row as they beat the Philadelphia 76ers 99-93, with Carmelo Anthony chipping in with 29 points and Amar'e Stoudemire registering a season-best haul of 22.
The Memphis Grizzlies edged out the Brooklyn Nets 76-72, the New Orleans Hornets ended a three-game losing streak with a 110-95 success at the Sacramento Kings and the Portland Trail Blazers snapped a sequence of seven defeats as they overcame the Boston Celtics 92-86.