National Basketball Association star Kobe Bryant hit a game-winning jump shot at the buzzer to give the Los Angeles Lakers a 101-99 win over the visiting Denver Nuggets.
After spending much of the day in a courtroom in Eagle, Colorado, where he faces rape charges, Bryant arrived in Los Angeles late Friday after the game had started. Fans cheered loudly when he entered the contest to start the second quarter. Teammate Shaquille O'Neal had 26 points and 11 rebounds, helping the Lakers snap a two-game losing streak.
Cleveland rookie sensation LeBron James ended the Cavaliers' 34-game road losing streak with his best shooting performance yet. James hit five of seven three-point shots, scoring 36 points in all, to lead Cleveland to an 88-81 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. The Cavaliers had not won a road game since January 12.
San Antonio's Tim Duncan grabbed 20 rebounds and scored 27 points to give the defending NBA champion Spurs an 87-73 win over the SuperSonics in Seattle. The victory was the ninth straight for the Spurs.
The other winners Friday were the Magic, Raptors, Kings, Nets, Jazz, Grizzlies, Pacers and Rockets.
Orlando's Tracy McGrady had 29 points and 12 assists to lead the Magic to the team's largest margin of victory this season, in a 119-93 romp over the visiting Golden State Warriors. Orlando has won five of seven games after ending a 19-game losing streak.
Toronto's Vince Carter scored 10 of the Raptors' 12 points in overtime to help Toronto snap a four-game losing streak in a 105-99 win over the visiting New York Knicks. Sacramento's Peja Stojakovic scored 31 points to lead the Kings to a 98-86 win over the Hawks in Atlanta. Sacramento has won six of its last seven games.
The New Jersey Nets got by the visiting Washington Wizards 97-87. Utah edged the Celtics 99-96 in Boston. The Memphis Grizzlies downed the visiting Miami Heat 97-83. The Indiana Pacers rallied to defeat the Detroit Pistons 80-75 in Indianapolis. And Houston's Yao Ming had 21 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Rockets to a 99-85 win over the visiting Los Angeles Clippers.