Lakers 108 - Mavericks 104 - Kobe Bryant Scores 52 Points

After the Lakers had their 10 game winning streak snapped the other night by the Portland Trailblazers how would they respond to Jason Kidd and the Dallas Mavericks, well let's see.

The Mavericks led 68-65 heading into to fourth quarter and Kobe Bryant had 22 points so far in the game. Kobe had been upset with himself for his poor free throw shooting in the first half by missing 5 of 8 so he took it out on the Dallas Mavericks in the fourth quarter of a close game. Kobe scored 22 points in the fourth quarter as Dallas coach Avery Johnson tried all kinds of defensive strategies to stop Bryant but nothing seemed to work. Kobe was in his kind of mode were nothing and no one could stop him. He scored 22 of the Lakers 28 fourth quarter points to almost beat Dallas all alone but Dirk Nowitzki hit a three pointer for the Mavericks with two seconds left in the game to send it to overtime.

In the OT Kobe continued were he left off by scoring 8 more points and finishing the game with 52 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assist. He went 15-27 from the field and shot 20-27 from the charity stripe. It was the 22nd time in Kobe's career that he has scored 50 points. In the OT with the Lakers up by three, Nowitzki shot a three pointer with seven seconds left but missed as the Mavericks fell to 4-3 since Jason Kidd joined them. A free throw by Lamar Odom finalized the final score as the Lakers won 108 - 104. Kidd in the game had 15 points, 6 rebounds and 11 assist. Dampier had a good game for Dallas scoring 16 points and grabbing 17 rebounds but fouled out with a little over a minute left in regulation.

Pau Gasol had 17 points and 14 rebounds in the game for the Lakers. Walton and Fisher each chipped in 11 points.