NBA Game Summary - Memphis at LA Lakers

Los Angeles, CA (Basketball News) - Chucky Atkins scored 18 points and burned his old team by making a free throw with three seconds left, to boost Memphis to a 100-99 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center.

Pau Gasol had a huge game for the Grizzlies with 31 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists. Eddie Jones added 25 points and eight rebounds against his former club, as the Grizzlies snapped a season-high five-game skid and won three of the four meetings this season versus the Lakers.

"I’m ecstatic for our guys," Memphis head coach Mike Fratello said. "We’ve been around at the end, but we haven’t finished. We found a way to dig down at the right time."

Kobe Bryant tallied 26 points, but couldn’t get off a last-second shot, as Los Angeles lost for the fifth time in its last six contests. Smush Parker added 20 points, while Kwame Brown tied a season-best with 18 points and pulled down eight rebounds.

"It was a disappointing loss for us as a basketball team," Lakers head coach Phil Jackson said. "We couldn’t keep them off the free throw line in the fourth quarter. We just didn’t have things go our way."

Bryant’s jumper over Jones extended the Lakers to a 99-95 lead with 1:07 left, but Gasol hit two free throws with 52.5 seconds remaining and then blocked a Bryant shot. Gasol then tied the game with a layup after going under two defenders with 28.7 seconds to play.

Brian Cook missed a shot at the other end, setting up Atkins, who tried to drive the lane before being fouled by Parker. Atkins made the first, but missed the second.

Following a Laker timeout, Bryant got the ball on the right side near the three-point line, but he released the ball after the buzzer sounded.

"We needed this like air," Gasol said of the win. "It feels so good, like winning the championship. I had to step up and produce. I’m extremely happy we got this win."

Bobby Jackson added 10 points on 3-of-12 shooting for Memphis. Atkins, who played for the Lakers last season, ended 4-of-10 from the field, but made 9- of-12 foul shots.

Devean George had 14 points for the Lakers, who began a five-game homestand.

It was a game of swings as the Grizzlies led by as many as 13, while the Lakers’ largest advantage was nine. Memphis was on top 34-27 after one quarter before the Lakers rallied for a 52-52 tie at halftime.

The Lakers scored the final 13 points of the half and then the opening four of the third quarter before taking their largest lead at 86-77 on a Bryant free throw with 7:48 remaining in the last quarter.