Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant makes a move against Atlanta Hawks guard Thabo SefoloshaJason Getz
For Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers, it was a rare chance to celebrate.
They didn't pass it up.
Bryant scored 28 points and the Lakers held on for just their second win, beating the Atlanta Hawks 114-109 on Tuesday night.
A locker room that has been solemn most of the season was a lot more raucous this time.
"Man, oh man, that's a lot better," Jeremy Lin said. "It's been a rough start to the season."
Bryant's biggest shot came with 1:11 remaining, when he backed in against Thabo Sefolosha and made a fadeaway jumper despite being fouled. Bryant slapped hands with a fan on the front row and completed the three-point play, giving the Lakers a 108-102 lead.
"It's been tough," Bryant said. "But you find beauty in the process."
The Hawks had a chance to force overtime after the Lakers (2-9) failed to put it away at the line. But Los Angeles smothered long-range threat Kyle Korver, leaving Pero Antic to take an open 3-pointer. It clanked off the rim and the Lakers gobbled up the loose ball to seal the victory.
Paul Millsap led Atlanta with 29 points.
Carlos Boozer added 20 points for the Lakers. Nick Young, coming back from a thumb injury, had 17 in his first game of the season.
Jeff Teague scored 23 for the Hawks, who lost for the first time at home.
In the first half, the Lakers hardly looked like a team that had lost nine of its first 10 games, putting up a season high for points in a half while racing to a 67-52 lead. Bryant scored 19 points and Boozer chipped in with 18 as Los Angeles shot 61 per cent (27 of 44) and outrebounded the Hawks 22-15.
"Games are not won in the first quarter," Korver said. "But they can be lost in the first quarter. We've got to do better at the start of the game. We've got to bring more energy, bring more juice."
The Hawks started the second half with a 13-0 run but never made it all the way back from the early deficit. Down the stretch, the Lakers made enough plays to snap a four-game losing streak.
Even after Bryant missed a wild one from the corner, Jordan Hill snatched away the offensive rebound and laid it back in to put Los Angeles ahead 111-106 with 17.7 seconds remaining.
The only thing that gave Atlanta hope was the Lakers' woes at the foul line. They missed three of five at one point in the closing seconds.
But Antic, left all alone outside the arc, couldn't make the tying 3.
"It's basically an easy shot," he said. "I usually make that shot."
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PELICANS 106, KINGS 100
SACRAMENTO – Anthony Davis had 28 points and nine rebound to help New Orleans to the road win.
Ryan Anderson hit four 3-pointers and scored 22 points for the Pelicans, who outscored the Kings 31-15 in the third. Tyreke Evans had 18 points, and Eric Gordon scored 17.
DeMarcus Cousins had 24 points and 17 rebounds for Sacramento, which dropped to 3-2 at home. Darren Collison added 13 points and 11 assists, and Jason Thompson finished with 15 points and nine rebounds.
Evans, who had 11 fourth-quarter points, made an off-balance shot over Cousins from close range and Davis converted one of two free throws, giving New Orleans a 103-97 lead with 28.8 seconds to go.
BUCKS 117, KNICKS 113
MILWAUKEE – Ersan Ilyasova had 20 points, and the rebuilding Bucks climbed above .500 for the first time in more than a year.
Zaza Pachulia added season highs of 14 points and 13 rebounds for Milwaukee, which improved to 6-5 on the year. It was the first time the team had a winning record since March 20, 2013, when it was 34-33.
New York cut a 26-point deficit to 115-113 with 7.9 seconds left, but Milwaukee managed to hold on.
Carmelo Anthony had 26 points for the Knicks, and Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 24.
The balanced Bucks had seven players score in double figures.
JAZZ 98, THUNDER 81
SALT LAKE CITY – Alec Burks had 20 points and a career-high 14 rebounds, and the Jazz beat the reeling Thunder.
Enes Kanter added 16 points and a season-high 15 boards for Utah, which enjoyed a 55-44 edge on the glass. Trey Burke scored 11 of his 17 points in the second half, and finished with nine assists.
Oklahoma City has lost three straight and seven of nine. Jeremy Lamb led the Thunder with 19 points, and Steven Adams had 11 points and eight rebounds.
Playing without the injured Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City shot 35.7 per cent (30 for 84) from the field.