WASHINGTON — Guard Kobe Bryant scored a season-high 31 points including the go-ahead jumper with 30.8 seconds remaining as the Los Angeles Lakers snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 108-104 win over the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night.
Bryant, who announced his retirement Sunday, scored 18 points in the first half and 12 in the fourth quarter for the Lakers (3-15). Displaying vintage moves with pull-up and fadeaway jumpers before a crowd roaring his every move with approval, the 20-year veteran efficiently scored in the first half while leaving enough energy left for the fourth quarter.
After the lead switched sides eight times in the fourth quarter, Bryant drained his fourth 3-pointer for a 101-99 lead. Washington center Marcin Gortat’s layup tied the game on the next possession, but Bryant put Los Angeles ahead with a long jumper, his fifth basket of the period.
Guard John Wall had 34 points and 11 assists for the Wizards (7-9). Washington returned home after snapping a season-high four-game losing streaky Tuesday by beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 97-85. Gortat had 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Guard Jordan Clarkson scored 18 for the Lakers. Forward Julius Randle had 15 points and 19 rebounds.
Warriors 116, Hornets 99
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Stephen Curry erupted for 40 points in his annual homecoming, scoring the final 24 points of the third quarter, and Golden State remained perfect with a victory over Charlotte.
The Warriors were in control throughout, racing to a 28-13 lead midway through the first quarter and building the lead to as many as 26 in the second half.
Curry, who grew up in Charlotte and played collegiately at nearby Davidson, finished 14 of 18 from the field and eight of 11 from 3-point range. He had just 12 points at halftime, and then exploded for 28 third-quarter points, including the Warriors’ last 24 over the final 4:55 of the period. He hit four 3-pointers in the final 1:53 of the third. He then sat out the entire fourth quarter with the game well in hand.
Knicks 99, 76ers 87
NEW YORK — New York snapped a four-game losing streak, turning back Philadelphia at Madison Square Garden.
Rookie Kristaps Porzingis registered his ninth double-double, scoring 17 points and grabbing 10 rebounds for the Knicks. Arron Afflalo added 13 points and eight rebounds, and Carmelo Anthony returned after missing one game due to illness, scoring 12 points in the wire-to-wire win.
Philadelphia, which ended its 18-game losing streak at the start of the season with a win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, was without Jahlil Okafor, who was suspended for two games earlier on Wednesday. Okafor, the third pick in the NBA draft out of Duke, will also miss Saturday’s game against the Denver Nuggets.
Raptors 96, Hawks 86
ATLANTA — Kyle Lowry shook off flu-like symptoms to score 31 points and help Toronto overcome a 17-point deficit en route to defeating Atlanta.
Lowry actually left the court with 4:11 in the first half when he felt sick to his stomach. He returned in the second half and scored 16 of the team’s points during an 18-4 run in the fourth quarter, when the Raptors went from seven points behind to seven points ahead. He scored 22 points in the fourth quarter.
Lowry shot 9-for-17 from the field and was 11-for-12 from the line. He added five rebounds and five assists. DeMar DeRozan added 17 points and guard Cory Joseph added 10 points for the Raptors.