Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Kobe Bryant hit a jumper over Charlie Bell at the end of overtime to give the Lakers a dramatic 107-106 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.
Kobe Drains OT Buzzer-Beater, Lakers Beat Bucks 107-106
Playing with a broken right index finger, Bryant had seven of his game-high 39 points in the extra session as Los Angeles rallied for the final seven points of OT, all from Bryant, to win for the 13th time in 14 games.
With the game tied at 95, Bell defended well against the reigning Finals MVP at the end of regulation, forcing a poor shot. Bryant, though, benefited from a controversial blocking foul call in OT to help spur the Lakers to victory.
Pau Gasol had 26 points and a career-best 22 rebounds for the Lakers, who also received 10 points from Ron Artest. Their 20-4 mark is tied with Boston for the best in the NBA.
Michael Redd logged a season-high 25 points for the Bucks, who shot 10-of-29 from three-point range. Redd was 2-of-8 in such situations.
Ersan Ilyasova posted a career-high 24 points for Milwaukee, which had a two- game winning streak broken and lost for the ninth time in 12 contests. Andrew Bogut had 16 points and 12 rebounds for the Bucks, who were coming off a thrilling double-overtime win over Portland on Saturday.
A three-ball by Redd followed by Luke Ridnour's pull-up jumper provided the Bucks a 106-100 lead with 1:25 left in OT.
Bryant countered with a short jumper, and after Ilyasova missed a pair of free throws, the Lakers got a gift call. Bryant powered down the lane and plowed into Bogut, who fell backward. The ball went through the hoop and the Bucks were upset that a blocking call took place instead of a charge with 48.6 seconds left. Bryant’s free throw moved the margin to 106-105.
Ridnour then missed a three-point try, but the Bucks got a second chance when Bell tapped the ball out for a long rebound. After a timeout, Redd missed a jumper inside 10 seconds left and Artest secured the ball for LA, which called a timeout with 5.4 left.
That set up Bryant's winning shot, as he received the inbounds from Lamar Odom near midcourt, and swung to his left before swishing a shot over Bell.
The Bucks led 20-19 after one quarter and were in front 47-45 at the half. The momentum shifted in the third with the Lakers leading by as many as eight, but their edge was just 74-71 moving to the fourth.
Bryant had seven of LA's 17 turnovers...The Lakers have won four straight and 14 of the last 17 meetings...The Lakers are 2-0 on a four-game road trip with games upcoming against New Jersey and Detroit...Ridnour had 13 points and Brandon Jennings scored 11 for Milwaukee.
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