Lakers 101, Hawks 87
Kobe Bryant scored 26 points, and Andrew Bynum collected 16 points and 16 rebounds as the visiting Los Angeles Lakers pushed their winning streak to eight games with a 101-87 victory over the stumbling Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday.
Bryant passed Moses Malone (27,409) for sixth on the NBA career scoring
list. The Celtics' Shaquille O'Neal is fifth with 28,590 points.
Pau Gasol added 14 points and 11 boards, and Lamar Odom scored 12 points for the Lakers, who have not lost since before the All-Star break, and pulled to within one game of the Dallas Mavericks for second in the Western Conference.
Los Angeles led at the half 57-49 after shooting 58 percent in the first two quarters. The Lakers opened it up in the third, and pushed the lead to as much as 79-57 when Derek Fisher capped a 16-3 spurt with a jumper.
The Hawks had one last run in them, and got as close as 90-82 with 5:37 left. But Bryant hit a 3-pointer and added three free throws as the Lakers pulled away again.
Al Horford finished with 17 points and nine rebounds for Atlanta, which has dropped three straight.