Bryant powers Lakers past Spurs

Bryant finished 12-of-19 from the field and 10-of-11 from the line while Vladimir Radmanovic donated 13 points off the bench for the Lakers, who have won three straight and seven of nine.

Maurice Evans also netted 11 points with five boards for Los Angeles, which shot 47 percent.

Tim Duncan led the Spurs with 26 points and nine rebounds while Tony Parker chipped in with 25 points and five helpers. Brent Barry also poured in 13 points for San Antonio, which has lost two in a row.

A close fourth quarter highlighted this see-saw battle of a game.

Brian Cook’s dunk finished a 10-2 scamper to put Los Angeles up 83-73 midway through the fourth. The Spurs, though, continued to fight and took a 91-90 lead following six straight points from Emanuel Ginobili.

Luke Walton then hit a layup to put the Lakers back on top by one, and after Duncan tied it at 92 with a free throw, Bryant drilled a jumper and Evans converted twice from the charity stripe for a 96-92 edge with 1:14 to play.

The battle continued as Duncan landed another free throw to cut San Antonio’s deficit to three, however, Ronny Turiaf’s short jumper made it 98-93 with 9.9 seconds remaining.

Barry answered with a trey to make it a two-point game until Bryant made two free throws with 4.9 seconds left for the final margin.

Radmanovic’s jumper put Los Angeles up by seven early in the first, but San Antonio responded with a 20-7 burst — capped by Ginobili’s three — for a 25-19 edge after one.

In the second, the Lakers took a 32-29 lead on Jordan Farmar’s trey before the Spurs went on a 9-2 run, led by seven points from Barry, to regain the edge at 38-34 with 5:44 left. Los Angeles proceeded to tie the game twice, however, it was San Antonio which went into halftime with a 53-49 advantage.

The contest remained close in the third with each team trading the lead but it was a three from Radmanovic that put the Lakers on top, 73-71, entering the final frame.

Game Notes

Walton and Cook each finished with eight points...Los Angeles has won three of the last four meetings between the teams...The Lakers shot 39 percent from three-point range while San Antonio was 27 percent from beyond the arc.