MINNEAPOLIS — What most people came to see Sunday at Target Center happened with 2 1/2 quarters left in the Timberwolves game against the Los Angeles Lakers.
MINNEAPOLIS — What most people came to see Sunday at Target Center happened with 2 1/2 quarters left in the Timberwolves game against the Los Angeles Lakers.
That’s when, coming out of a timeout with 5:24 left in the first half, Lakers star Kobe Bryant went to the free throw line. He hit two free throws, his eighth and ninth points of the game, to pass Michael Jordan into third place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list as fans stood, cheered and recorded the event.
The game was, briefly, stopped. Bryant was hugged by his teammates. Wolves owner Glen Taylor awarded Bryant the game ball.
And then they played the rest of the game.
Bryant ended up scoring 26 points — including 10 in the fourth quarter — in the Lakers’ 100-94 victory over the Wolves.
It gave Bryant 32,310 points in his career, gave the Lakers (8-16) their first three-game winning streak of the season and gave the Wolves (5-18) their second straight loss and their eighth in nine games.
But it was Bryant most came to see.
Lakers coach Byron Scott predicted it would happen in the first half, and hoped it would come on a fade-away — Bryant’s signature shot. Instead it came at the line, giving the crowd to stand and cheer in anticipation.
Bryant started slowly. He had four points on 1-for-5 shooting in the first quarter. He hit a three-pointer with 6:13 left in the second quarter to get to seven points. Bryant missed on the Lakers’ next possession. But, moments later, he got the ball, drove the baseline and was fouled by Zach LaVine, and hit both free throws, officially moving him past Jordan (32,292).
“I congratulate Kobe on reaching this milestone,” Jordan told the Associated Press. “He’s obviously a great player, with a strong work ethic and has an equally strong passion for the game of basketball. I’ve enjoyed watching his game evolve over the years, and I look forward to seeing what he accomplishes next.”
RAPTORS 95, KNICKS 90, OT
NEW YORK —Kyle Lowry had 21 points and 11 assists, controlling the overtime period and leading Toronto over New York.
Lowry missed a jumper that would’ve won it to end regulation, but then had two baskets and an assist in overtime, accounting for more points than the Knicks managed as a team.
Terrence Ross added a season-high 22 points for the Raptors, who maintained the best record in the Eastern Conference at 18-6.
Carmelo Anthony had 34 points and nine rebounds for the Knicks, who played without injured guards Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith.
Tim Hardaway Jr. got the start and scored 18 points, but missed eight of his final 10 shots and finished 4 of 15. The Knicks, who ended a 10-game losing streak with a victory at Boston on Friday, fell to 5-21.
SPURS 99, NUGGETS 91
DENVER — Kawhi Leonard scored 18 points and San Antonio beat banged-up Denver.
Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili added 15 points apiece for the Spurs, who bounced back from Friday’s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers despite the absence of Tony Parker, who was out with an injured hamstring.
Arron Afflalo had a season-high 31 points to lead the Nuggets, who have lost six of their last seven games.
J.J. Hickson started in place of injured Kenneth Faried and Ty Lawson left the game with 3:02 remaining in the second quarter after a collision with Ginobili opened a cut above his left eye. The cut was bandaged and he returned early in the third quarter.
Down by 10 points heading into the fourth quarter, the Nuggets pulled to 79-74 on a baseline jumper by Afflalo with 5:42 remaining.
The teams were trading baskets until Ginobili drained a 3-pointer and Cory Joseph drove in for a reverse layup around a Nuggets turnover as San Antonio went in front 94-84 with 2 minutes left to play and Denver couldn’t get back within striking distance.
THUNDER 112, SUNS 88
OKLAHOMA CITY —Russell Westbrook had 28 points, eight assists and eight rebounds, Kevin Durant added 23 points and eight rebounds and Oklahoma City won its sixth straight game, beating Phoenix Suns 112-88.
Westbrook recorded his eighth straight game of scoring at least 20 points, and getting five rebounds and five assists since his return from a broken hand. By halftime, he had 24, five rebounds and six assists. He narrowly missed getting his ninth career triple-double.
With the win, Oklahoma City – which started the season 3-12 – moved within a half-game of eighth place in the Western Conference. The Thunder, with Westbrook and Durant back after missing most or all of the first part of the season due to injury, has won eight of their last nine games and is 11-13.
WARRIORS 128, PELICANS 122, OT
NEW ORLEANS — Stephen Curry scored eight of his 34 points in overtime and Golden State won its 16th straight by beating New Orleans.
Klay Thompson added 29 points for the Warriors, whose franchise-long winning streak includes a club-record 10 straight road victories.
Tyreke Evans scored 34 points for the Pelicans, but fouled out with three minutes left in overtime.
Jrue Holiday had 30 points, nine assists and five steals for New Orleans, which was playing without Anthony Davis but still led 107-99 with 4:16 left in regulation.
Andre Iguodala had a season-high 20 points and Shaun Livingston scored 12 for Golden State. Marreese Speights added 10 points, including a free throw that tied the game at 111, a scored that held until regulation ended.
WIZARDS 93, JAZZ 84
WASHINGTON —John Wall had 16 points, eight assists and six rebounds, and Washington overcame a sluggish start to put away slumping Utah.
Wall also had five steals and three blocks, Bradley Beal scored 22 points, and Paul Pierce added 15 for the Wizards, who nearly succumbed to a letdown game after their big win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night. Washington committed 12 first-half turnovers against the Jazz, but Wall, Beal and Nene led a third-quarter surge, and Andre Miller’s driving layup in the first minute of the fourth quarter produced the game’s first double-digit lead.
Alec Burks scored 19 points, and Gordon Hayward had 16 for the Jazz, who have lost 11 of 12.
BULLS 93, HEAT 75
MIAMI — Mike Dunleavy scored 22 points and Chicago overcame a sloppy start to beat offensively inept Miami.
Heat leading scorer Chris Bosh (calf strain) missed a game for the first time this season, which left them without enough punch or size to challenge Chicago. Miami shot a season-low 35 percent, including 4 for 22 from 3-point range.
Dunleavy was shut out in the first half but scored 19 points on eight shots in the third quarter, when Chicago outscored Miami 33-16. Dunleavy finished 4 for 5 from 3-point range, while the Bulls shot 9 of 18 beyond the arc and 47 overall.
Jimmy Butler had 17 points for the Central Division-leading Bulls. They improved to 11-3 on the road, best in the Eastern Conference.
Dwyane Wade and Luol Deng led Miami with 17 points apiece. The Heat’s point total matched their season low.