Lakers 99, Hawks 98
Kobe Bryant scored the decisive basket with nine seconds left to cap a 34-point effort and Los Angeles reached the .500 mark by downing visiting Atlanta.
Steve Nash added 15 points and 10 assists and Dwight Howard had 11 points and 15 rebounds for the Lakers, who have won 13 of 18 games to reach the break-even mark for the first time since they were 15-15 on Dec. 28.
Al Horford scored 24 points and Josh Smith added 19 for the Hawks. Atlanta’s last opportunity was thwarted when Smith’s pass was intercepted by Los Angeles guard Steve Blake in the final seconds.
The Hawks recovered from a 16-point, third-quarter deficit and the game was close throughout the final quarter. Horford’s dunk with 26.7 seconds left gave Atlanta a 98-97 lead before Bryant drove through traffic to score the go-ahead basket.
Los Angeles possessed a 52-45 halftime lead and expanded its advantage to 65-49 on Earl Clark’s dunk with 7:20 left in the third quarter. Atlanta trailed by six entering the final quarter and caught the Lakers at 80 on Kyle Korver’s jumper with 10:42 remaining.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Bryant has scored 30 or more points 25 times this season. … Horford has scored 20 or more points in nine consecutive games, the best stretch of his career. … Los Angeles was 10-of-21 from 3-point range and has made 26 over its last two games.