DALLAS, Texas – An injury scare for Lakers star Kobe Bryant didn't slow the two-time defending NBA champions as they defeated Dallas 96-91 in a key Western Conference matchup.
Bryant on Saturday shot just 6-of-20 from the floor, but his 16 points included six in the 9-0 scoring run that the Lakers used to take the lead for good in the second quarter.
Late in the third quarter, Bryant came down awkwardly on his left ankle after having a shot blocked by Shawn Marion.
He lay on the court as Jason Kidd parlayed the turnover into a basket and then Bryant rose, hobbled a few steps and called a timeout.
He went to the locker room, but returned in the fourth period. It wasn't immediately clear how serious his ankle injury was.
However, in the wake of the injury to Bryant, the Lakers didn't waver. They scored eight straight points to extend their lead to 10.
With the victory, the Lakers improved to 47-20 and moved within one-half game of the 47-19 Mavericks for second place in the Western Conference.
The two-time defending champions avenged a loss to the Mavs earlier this season and finished a tough four-game road trip 3-1.
The only defeat in the swing was a narrow loss at Miami. The Lakers had beaten the Western Conference-leading Spurs and Atlanta before they were out-hustled by the Heat.
"You've got to take it," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "We wish we would have won the Miami game but that's past and we move forward.
"We have Orlando when we get home, so we're just not even taking a breath."
Jackson notched his 600th victory with the Lakers, becoming only the fifth coach in NBA history to reach that mark with one club.
Andrew Bynum led the Lakers with 22 points and 15 rebounds, while Pau Gasol had 18 points and Ron Artest added 12.
Dirk Nowitzki and Marion had 25 points each for the Mavericks. Marion added 12 rebounds and Nowitzki 10 rebounds.
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