NBA Game Summary - Indiana at LA Lakers

Los Angeles, CA (Basketball News) - Kobe Bryant poured in 45 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Indiana Pacers, 96-90, at the Staples Center.

Bryant scored 45 or more points for the fourth consecutive game, a feat that had not been accomplished since Wilt Chamberlain from November 15-22, 1964.

"I am very fortunate and blessed to play this game," Bryant said. "I try not to think about it (the streak), but I appreciate and feel blessed on what’s going on."

Lamar Odom notched a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds for the Lakers, who won their third straight contest.

Jermaine O’Neal also recorded a double-double with 24 points and 16 rebounds and Anthony Johnson added 14 points for Indiana, which had its two-game winning streak snapped.

Danny Granger contributed 12 points and nine rebounds, while Sarunas Jasikevicius donated 10 points in the loss.

Indiana has lost seven straight and 13 of its last 14 at the Lakers.

The game remained tight into the late stages of the fourth quarter.

Bryant’s acrobatic bucket in traffic pushed the guard to the 40-point plateau and put the Lakers in front 85-83 with 2:48 left, then Granger went up-and- under for a lay-in that tied the game with 1:59 remaining. Bryant answered with a bucket that gave Los Angeles the narrow two-point edge.

O’Neal was fouled on the other end but missed a pair from the charity stripe. Odom then came around a screen and made a three-pointer from the right wing to push the Lakers to a 90-85 lead with 1:20 left on the clock.

Indiana had several chances to cut into the lead late in the game, but Granger missed a putback in close and O’Neal missed an open three-pointer from the right corner. Bryant then made two free throws with 9.6 seconds left to seal the victory.

"We had chances. We created a lot of open looks," Indiana head coach Rick Carlisle said. "We just couldn’t take advantage of it."

Los Angeles held a 47-45 lead after a tightly-contested first half, but the Pacers outscored the Lakers 20-17 in the third stanza to take a 65-64 lead heading into the fourth.