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Lakers 129, Raptors 122 (OT)
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
LOS ANGELES — Kobe Bryant recorded his 20th career triple-double, and the Los Angeles Lakers halted a four-game skid with a 129-122 overtime victory over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday at Staples Center.
Bryant scored 31 points, dished out 12 assists and pulled down 11 rebounds as the Lakers (4-13) won for only the second time in 10 home games. Reserve guard Nick Young scored 20 points, forward Carlos Boozer added 18 points and nine rebounds, and center Jordan Hill had 16 points and 12 rebounds.
Point guard Kyle Lowry scored 29 points, handed out nine assists and grabbed six rebounds for the Raptors (13-4), who dropped their second in a row. Toronto forward Terrence Ross had 20 points.
The Raptors fell in their first game without leading scorer DeMar DeRozan, who is out indefinitely after tearing a groin tendon Friday night. However, guard Greivis Vasquez performed well in DeRozan’s absence, finishing with 19 points. Guard Lou Williams added 19 points off the bench.
With the score tied at 110 in the extra period, the Lakers went on an 10-2 spurt to seal the win.
The Lakers had a chance to claim a win in regulation after Bryant scored on a drive and Young delivered a 3-pointer to increase Los Angeles’ lead to 108-104 with 1:31 left. Lowry pulled the Raptors within two on a pair of free throws with 1:19 remaining.
After a miss by Bryant, Ross converted a 3-point jumper for a 109-108 lead with 44.4 seconds left. Bryant hit one of two free throws to tie the score again. However, he couldn’t convert on a drive just before the final horn of regulation, forcing overtime.
Early in the third quarter, Bryant became the first player to accumulate more than 30,000 points and 6,000 assists when he set up forward Wesley Johnson for a jumper.
NOTES: Toronto coach Dwane Casey said his club will need a collective effort to replace injured G DeMar DeRozan, who sustained a torn left tendon in his groin in Friday’s loss to the Dallas Mavericks and is out indefinitely. “We’ve got to find a combination that will last for the duration that DeMar is going to be out,” Casey said of the team’s leading scorer at 19.4 points per game. “Certain players will determine that, but I’d like to have a certain rotation regardless of who we’re playing against to give the guys some consistency of knowing when they’re coming in and out of the game.” Greivis Vasquez started in DeRozan’s spot against the Lakers. … The Raptors resume their three-game road trip Wednesday in Sacramento against the Kings. … The Lakers begin a three-game Eastern Conference swing Tuesday against the Detroit Pistons.
