LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers for the second time this season Thursday, downing the reigning NBA champions 93-87
LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers for the second time this season Thursday, downing the reigning NBA champions 93-87.
The Cavaliers, who embarrassed the Lakers in a Christmas Day contest, saw to it that the Lakers' eight-game
road trip got off to a rocky start, and spoiled any pleasure Bryant might have felt in reaching an NBA scoring milestone.
James scored 37 points, including 12 straight in the closing stretch, while JJ Hickson pulled down a career-high 14 rebounds and Anderson Varejao made three free throws in the last 20 seconds as Cleveland came out on top in a clash of the NBA's two top teams. "This is what I live for," James said.
"He willed this win for us," Cavs coach Mike Brown said of his star. "He has been doing that for us down the stretch, no matter who our opponent is."
Injury
The Cavaliers were playing their first game without Mo Williams, the All-Star point guard who is expected to miss at least a month with a sprained shoulder. Bryant surpassed 25,000 career points in the first half, becoming the 15th player to do so.
Up next for Bryant at No 14 on the all-time scoring list is Lakers legend Jerry West with 25,192. But despite reaching the milestone, Bryant couldn't match James in the fourth quarter. Bryant finished with 31 points, but was only 4-of-15 in the second half.
