New York: The Los Angeles Lakers shrugged off the absence of Dwight Howard and Metta World Peace but now face the prospect of losing Pau Gasol to injury after their 92-83 road victory over Brooklyn yesterday.
Howard sat out a second straight game with an ailing shoulder and World Peace served a one-game suspension for striking a Detroit player on Sunday, but the Lakers survived a tough battle for their third straight win and sixth in seven.
However, the win was tempered by the sight of Gasol limping off the court for good with 3:50 remaining after the Spanish big man injured his right foot while trying to block a shot.
Despite the latest setback, Kobe Bryant scored 21 points, and Steve Nash added 17 and eight assists to help Los Angeles (23-26) break clear of Brooklyn in the final stages.
The Nets led 83-82 with two and a half minutes remaining but the Lakers scored the last 10 points, with point guard Nash assisting on two baskets and adding four straight free throws to put his stamp on the win.
Brook Lopez had 30 points and 11 rebounds for the Nets (28-20), who notched their 10th straight loss to the Lakers.
“To their credit they closed out the game well, but I just feel those two and a half minutes are about as bad as I played on both ends of the floor this season,” Lopez said.
Brooklyn last beat Los Angeles in November 2007 and their latest attempt was hampered by their 34 percent shooting accuracy.
Bryant also did not shoot his best, making just 9-of-24 attempts, but he did provide the highlight of the game when he drove the lane in the fourth and threw down a monster dunk between Nets defenders Gerald Wallace and Kris Humphries.
The play gave the Lakers an 82-80 edge.
Earl Clark also had a productive night for the Lakers with 14 points and 12 rebounds while Gasol left the contest after scoring 15 points.
Meanwhile, Jeremy Lin drained five of Houston’s record-equalling 23 three-pointers yesterday as the Rockets romped to a 140-109 NBA victory over the Golden State Warriors.
The Rockets matched the NBA record with their 23 from beyond the arc, the long-range barrage lifting them to a fifth win in six games.
Lin finished with 28 points as the Rockets notched their highest-scoring game of the season. Their 14 three-pointers in the first half also tied an NBA record -- even though their best three-point shooter, Carlos Delfino, was sidelined by a right elbow injury.
James Harden and Chandler Parsons had four three-pointers apiece. Harden finished with a total of 18 points and Parsons scored 16.
The Rockets tied the record of 23 three-pointers set by the Orlando Magic in a 139-107 victory over Sacramento on January 13, 2009.
With the game in hand, Houston coach Kevin McHale sent in his reserves for the final minutes.
Marcus Morris made three treys off the bench over the course of the game. Toney Douglas added two and James Anderson had two as well.
Patrick Beverley delivered their 22nd three-pointer with 4:20 left and Donatas Motiejunas added the 23rd with 3:41 remaining.
The Rockets had a couple more chances to break the record before Golden State began to intentionally foul them. AGENCIES
