NBA Friday Aftermath

Kobe Bryant scored 35 points and powered the Los Angeles Lakers to a 114-107 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.

Kobe Bryant scored 35 points and led a third-quarter surge that powered the Los Angeles Lakers to a 114-107 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.

Bryant added six rebounds and five assists and contributed six points during a crucial 15-2 run over the final four minutes of the third quarter that helped the Lakers overcome an 11-point deficit to claim their 13th win in 14 games.

Andrew Bynum poured in 18 points and 10 rebounds for his fifth consecutive double-double while Pau Gasol finished with 14 points for the Lakers.

At 13-1, the Lakers have the best record in the NBA and hold a three and a half game lead in the Western Conference over the Utah Jazz, Phoenix Suns and Portland Trail Blazers, who had mixed fortunes.

Deron Williams led the Jazz with 13 points and 15 assists in just 27 minutes in a 120-94 rout of the Sacramento Kings while the Suns, who were missing two-time MVP point guard Steve Nash, lost 107-92 against the Miami Heat as Dwyane Wade collected 43 points.

Brandon Roy collected 25 points, 10 assists and six rebounds as the Trail Blazers remained perfect at home with a 101-86 triumph over the New Orleans Hornets.

The Boston Celtics remained the top team in the Eastern Conference as Ray Allen scored 15 of his game-high 23 points in the third quarter to lead the defending champions to their seventh straight victory, a 102-78 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.

LeBron James had 23 points, eight assists and seven rebounds as the Cleveland Cavaliers cruised to a 112-97 victory over the Golden State Warriors, Allen Iverson scored the go-ahead bucket and finished with 17 points and seven assists to lead Detroit Pistons to a 107-97 triumph over the Milwaukee Bucks.

Iverson was held out of the starting lineup by coach Michael Curry after the former MVP skipped practice on Thanksgiving.

Chris Bosh collected 30 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists to lead the Toronto Raptors to a 93-88 win over the Atlanta Hawks.

The San Antonio Spurs won their fourth straight game after holding off the Memphis Grizzlies 109-98 and the Charlotte Bobcats won their first road game of the season with a 115-108 overtime victory against the Indiana Pacers.

ESS