Los Angeles - Kobe Bryant wasn't about to let the LA Lakers' slide go on. Bryant poured in 40 points in a milestone effort, and the defending NBA Champions held off the visiting Detroit Pistons 106-93 on Tuesday night to snap a modest two-game skid.
Bryant's 100th career game of 40 or more points put him third on the NBA's all-time list behind icons Wilt Chamberlain (271) and Michael Jordan (173).
"It's a true honour," Bryant said. "A lot of work went into it, and when I look back on that, I (can't believe) I had 100 of those games. It's just a good feeling."
Lakers coach Phil Jackson tipped his hat to Bryant, who put on a vintage performance, despite being bothered by a groin strain.
"That's the kind of effort he gives," Jackson said. "It's a remarkable trait he has that separates him from the rest of the players."
Andrew Bynum had 17 points with 12 rebounds for the Lakers (8-3), who avoided their first three-game losing streak since Feb. 2008.
The Lakers suffered back-to-back blowouts at the hands of Denver (102-74) and Houston (101-91) in their previous two outings, before finding the winner's circle again despite surviving a late scare.
"Some of that is just talent and some of it is resiliency of the team that comes back," Jackson said. "They were embarrassed with the losses and they want to feel good about themselves, so they worked hard to change that."
Bryant scored 21 points by halftime, giving the Lakers a 57-42 cushion. The former league MVP added 14 more, including a spinning acrobatic layup with his back to the basket as the lead grew to 28 in the third period.
Ahead 88-63 entering the final frame, the Lakers defence watched the Pistons go on a 28-10 run to close within 98-91 with 1:55 remaining.
The Lakers answered, however. Shannon Brown converted all three free throws after drawing a foul from behind the arc. He followed with a high-flying breakaway dunk, before Bryant drained his three with 19 seconds left.
"Don't let this game fool us, it was an easy game, it was a bad game," the Lakers Bynum said. "We can still play better. In the fourth, we just kind of shut it down, because we were up by so many points."
Will Bynum scored 24 points, and Ben Gordon had 18 for Detroit (5- 6) losers of two in a row following a three-game run.
"We just weren't all on the same page defensively," Gordon said. "Our coverage defensively was late, especially helping on Kobe.
"Obviously he's a great player so we need to be paying attention to him at all times. He pretty much got any shot he wanted at any given time. He led them the entire game and set the tone."
Elsewhere: Cleveland Cavaliers 114, Golden State Warriors 108 LeBron James had 31 points, 12 assists and the game-clinching jumper with 12 seconds left as the short-handed Cavaliers held off the injury-depleted Warriors.
J.J. Hickson netted a career-high 21 points for the host Cavaliers (8-3) who without injured big men Shaquille O'Neal (shoulder) and Brazilian Anderson Varejao (hip contusion) won their fifth in a row.
Monta Ellis tallied a team-best 23 points for the Warriors (3-7) who dressed the league minimum eight players due to injuries.
Oklahoma City Thunder 100, Miami Heat 87 Kevin Durant scored 32 points, Russell Westbrook added 24 and the visiting Thunder (6-5) surprised the Heat for only the second time in the last nine meetings.
Dwyane Wade paced Miami (7-3) with 22 points.
Indiana Pacers 91, New Jersey Nets 83 Danny Granger scored 22 points, Roy Hibbert matched his career- high with 19 and the visiting Pacers won their fifth in a row, while keeping the Nets the only team without a victory this season.
Chris Douglas-Roberts tossed in a career-best 27 points, Brook Lopez added 26 with 16 rebounds for New Jersey (0-11), six losses shy of the worst start in league history.
New Orleans Hornets 110, LA Clippers 102 David West had 24 points and 10 rebounds, Peja Stojakovic added 15, including six free throws in the final half-minute, and the Hornets (4-8) gave Jeff Bower his first coaching victory since replacing fired Byron Scott last Thursday.
Al Thornton scored 30 points for the Clippers (4-8), who have lost four of five.
Phoenix Suns 111, Houston Rockets 105 Amare Stoudemire scored 23 points, Steve Nash had 12 along with 16 assists as the visiting Suns (10-2) overcame a 15-point, second- quarter hole to improve on its league-best record. Reserve Carl Landry topped Houston (6-5) with a career-high 27 points.
Denver Nuggets 130, Toronto Raptors 112 Carmelo Anthony scored 32 points before sitting out the final quarter, reserve J.R. Smith had 29 and the host Nuggets (8-3) dominated the second half, 66-48 to rout the Raptors (5-6).
Chicago Bulls 101, Sacramento Kings 87 John Salmons scored 23 points against his former club, Joakim Noah had 15 with 14 rebounds and the visiting Bulls snapped the Kings' four-game winning streak. Donte Greene led Sacramento (5-5) with 24 points.
