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Shaq back; Kobe outduels Marbury

Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 14, 2001

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Kobe Bryant and Stephon Marbury had another head-to-head duel, and Bryant's three-point play with 4.8 seconds left in overtime outdid Marbury's career-high 50 points as the Lakers beat the Nets 113-110 Tuesday night.

Bryant's game-winning play capped a 38-point performance and was the final highlight of a game that featured a 32-point, 14-rebound effort by Shaquille O'Neal in his return from a foot injury after a six-game absence.

The victory was the fourth in a row for the Lakers, who are starting a six-game road trip, and snapped the Nets' season-high three-game winning streak.

Like the All-Star game on Sunday, the final minutes were a showdown between Bryant and Marbury, only this time Bryant had the final say.

"I told (Nets coach) Byron (Scott) that there was no way I was going to miss the game-winning shot two games in a row," Bryant said.

Marbury, who hit 17 of 29 shots and tied his season high with 12 assists, had a chance to tie the game, but his 33-foot shot from straight on bounced off the front of the rim.

Trailing 110-107 with 1:21 to play in overtime, the Lakers found an unconventional way to tie the game. After O'Neal hit one of two free throws, he blocked a drive by Marbury.

Tyronn Lue, who had not scored all night, then drove from midcourt and hit a high-arcing layup over Keith Van Horn to tie the game with 36.8 seconds left.

Lucious Harris missed a three-pointer with about 20 seconds to play, setting up Bryant's final shot. Starting on the right wing, he dribbled toward the foul line, did a reverse spin and drove the lane, powering his shot over rookie Kenyon Martin. He added the free throw for the final margin.

The Lakers seemed to have the game in hand after Bryant banked in a short shot with 4:14 in regulation for a 100-88 lead.

But Marbury had other ideas. He hit two free throws and converted a three-point play and fed a wide-open Van Horn for a three-pointer that cut the lead to 100-96 with 2:00 to play.

Bryant appeared to put two daggers in the Nets' comeback hopes, sandwiching a rebound follow and a reverse layup around two free throws by Marbury, giving Los Angeles a 104-98 lead with 64 seconds to go.

After an offensive rebound, Marbury hit a high-arcing three-pointer to narrow the lead to three points with 50.5 seconds to go, then tied the game with another sky-high three-pointer with 27 seconds left after a turnover by Lue near midcourt.

Bryant had a chance to put the Lakers ahead in the closing seconds, but he misfired on a jumper from the top of the key.

The Lakers led 74-71 after a wild third quarter that featured spurts of 9-4 and 17-2 by Los Angeles and 20-4 and 8-0 by New Jersey.

KINGS 97, JAZZ 94 (OT): Bobby Jackson scored 17 and made a late steal as visiting Sacramento overcame an injury to Chris Webber.

Webber, who scored 34, was carried off with 0.9 seconds remaining in regulation after collapsing with a sprained left ankle while driving the baseline. He was expected to be re-evaluated this morning.

Doug Christie's two free throws with 19.3 seconds gave the Kings a 95-91 lead, and Karl Malone completed a three-point play with 12.6 seconds remaining to pull the Jazz within a point. Christie added another free throw before John Stockton missed a leaner in the lane with six seconds remaining.

Peja Stojakovic, who scored 19, hit one of two foul shots with 4.8 seconds remaining for a 97-94 lead, and John Starks was off the mark on a three-point attempt from 30 feet at the buzzer.

HEAT 101, CLIPPERS 99 (OT): Anthony Mason's spinning 5-foot jumper with 0.6 seconds left in overtime lifted host Miami.

Mason, who had 21 points and 10 rebounds, took a pass from Tim Hardaway and wiggled past Cherokee Parks for the game-winner.

Eric Piatkowski misfired on a desperation three-point attempt at the buzzer.

The Heat, who trailed by 17 in the first half, have beaten the Clippers eight consecutive times. Los Angeles fell to an NBA worst 0-7 in overtime games this season.

Eddie Jones had 22 points for Miami, including a three-pointer to tie the score at 95 in overtime. Hardaway finished with 20 points and seven assists.

Mason's shot came after Lamar Odom made two free throws with 6.6 seconds left. Odom was fouled by Mason.

Hardaway could have won it for Miami at the end of regulation. But after hitting the first free throw to tie it at 90 with 1.3 seconds left, the 11-year veteran missed his second attempt.

BULLS 96, HAWKS 92: Marcus Fizer and Ron Mercer scored 19 each as host Chicago blew a 17-point lead before rallying to end its 16-game losing streak.

It was Chicago's first victory since Jan. 4. In the final minute, knowing a victory was finally close, the Bulls celebrated every made shot and every foul they took. When the final buzzer sounded, streamers spewed from above the baskets.

The loss extended the Hawks' losing streak to six.

SIXERS 107, BUCKS 104: Allen Iverson scored 49 and host Philadelphia staged a furious comeback to win in a matchup of the top teams in the East.

The Bucks got 28 from Glenn Robinson, 27 from Ray Allen and 20 from Sam Cassell and led 104-99 with 1:11 left. But they had eight fourth-quarter turnovers, blew a nine-point lead and failed to foul late in the game.

BLAZERS 109, WOLVES 88: Rasheed Wallace won his matchup with fellow All-Star Kevin Garnett, scoring 18 as host Portland stopped Minnesota's 11-game winning streak.

RAPTORS 120, CAVS 105: Vince Carter scored 33 but was sitting down when visiting Toronto opened its big lead in the second quarter.

Carter scored 16 in the third quarter and sat out most of the fourth as the Raptors won their third in a row to move four games better than .500 for the first time this season.

GRIZZLIES 99, CELTICS 98: Mike Bibby scored 11 of his 25 in the fourth quarter, helping host Vancouver win the first game since commissioner David Stern gave owner Michael Heisley permission to seek a new home for his struggling franchise.

ROCKETS 99, WIZARDS 89: Steve Francis scored 29 and Hakeem Olajuwon added 15 points and a season-high 20 rebounds as host Houston won its fourth in a row.

SPURS 104, MAVS 92: Tim Duncan scored 28 and Antonio Daniels had 18 for host San Antonio.

Danny Ferry made four of the Spurs' nine three-pointers, and Avery Johnson tied his season-high of 14 points in his first game in two months for San Antonio.

NUGGETS 96, KNICKS 77: Nick Van Exel had 24 points and 12 assists as Denver returned to its home comfort zone.

Antonio McDyess added 17 points for the Nuggets, who had lost six of seven overall but improved to 21-6 at home.

HORNETS 77, PACERS 66: Jamal Mashburn had 18 points and 11 rebounds to lead visiting Charlotte. Reggie Miller scored 11 for Indiana, just enough to move past George Gervin into 23rd place on the NBA's all-time scoring list.

HAWKS: Atlanta placed rookie forward Hanno Mottola on injured reserve with a sprained left elbow and said he would not be replaced on the active roster.

SIXERS: The team activated guard Eric Snow and center Matt Geiger, and put Theo Ratliff and Pepe Sanchez on the injured list.

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