Kobe, Lakers Handle Spurs

Kobe Bryant scored 14 of his career-high 43 points in a span of 5 1/2 minutes at the end of the third quarter and start of the fourth Friday night as the Los Angeles Lakers rebounded from their most lopsided loss in nearly six years to beat San Antonio 109-100.

Shaquille O'Neal had 36 points and 16 rebounds to help the Lakers beat the Spurs for only the second time in 11 games, despite blowing a 20-point halftime lead.

Bryant's 3-point shot in the final second of the third quarter put the Lakers on top 82-78, and he scored 11 points to spark an 18-5 Lakers' run to start the fourth quarter for a 100-83 lead.

The Spurs then outscored the Lakers 14-2 to make it 102-97 with 2:25 left, and a dunk by David Robinson with 1:11 to play made it 104-100.

Bryant surpassed his previous career high of 40 points by making a jumper with 51 seconds to go. Brian Shaw's foul shot with 33.2 seconds left and two more by Bryant with 26.6 seconds to play completed the scoring.

The Lakers, 121-88 losers Thursday night in Seattle, took it out on the Spurs in the first half, dominating throughout in taking a 62-42 lead. Duncan had only five points and four rebounds at that stage, compared to 23 points and nine rebounds for O'Neal.

However Duncan scored eight points to spark a 16-2 San Antonio run at the beginnin of the third quarter, trimming the Lakers' lead to 64-58, and the Spurs took a 74-73 lead their first since the game's opening minute on two free throws by Avery Johnson with 3:06 left in the period.

O'Neal had only two free throws in the quarter until making a dunk with 1:12 to play in the period to give the Lakers a 77-76 lead, and they were on top the rest of the way.

O'Neal, who had a season-low 13 points against San Antonio last month, scored his team's first five points and had 10 in the first 4:04 of play.

Duncan left at that juncture after picking up his second foul, and didn't return until early in the second quarter with the Spurs trailing 32-25. The Lakers scored 10 straight points six by Bryant for a 56-37 lead late in the period.

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