Bryant's 28 helps Lakers beat Magic
(AP)
Updated: 2006-03-01 15:15

LOS ANGELES - Kobe Bryant had 28 points and eight assists to lead the Los Angeles Lakers over the Orlando Magic 102-87 on Tuesday night.

Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant drives to the basket as Orlando Magic's Stacy Augmon defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2006. [AP]

Smush Parker added 17 points and seven assists for the Lakers (29-28), who took control of the game with a third-quarter scoring burst.

Lamar Odom had eight points, 12 rebounds and five assists as Los Angeles climbed back above the .500 mark. Chris Mihm and Brian Cook had 12 points apiece in the Lakers' balanced attack, Kwame Brown had 11 and Ronny Turiaf 10.

Grant Hill, obviously getting over the sports hernia problem that's dogged him, led the Magic with 23 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the floor. Dwight Howard had 15 points and nine rebounds for Orlando, which lost for the ninth time in 10 games.

After a close first half, the Lakers took control with a 22-4 run over a six-minute span of the third quarter.

Mihm's 19-foot jumper gave Los Angeles a 52-48 lead and started the run. A steal by Parker that set up Odom's dunk over Howard gave the Lakers a 62-50 advantage, then Bryant's 3-pointer at the 3:18 mark of the quarter made it 72-52.

Parker had 10 points in the period to help Los Angeles outscore Orlando 38-23. The Lakers were up 82-64 heading into the fourth quarter.

The Magic closed to 94-85 with 4:11 remaining, but Bryant scored the Lakers' final 10 points to keep them comfortably in front. He finished 11-of-20 from the field.

Bryant was relatively quiet in the first half, taking only six shots, making three and scoring nine points. He did have five assists. Mihm led the Lakers with 10 first-half points and they led 44-41 at the break.

Hill had 10 for Orlando, which shot 57 percent to Los Angeles' 43 percent. But the Magic turned the ball over 12 times, to the Lakers' three.

Orlando finished with 18 turnovers to 10 for Los Angeles. The Lakers shot 51 percent to the Magic's 53 percent for the game.

Bryant made a pair of free throws with one second left in the opening quarter to put Los Angeles up 24-22. He made all three of his shots from the floor in the first period and had nine points.