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NBA Scores: Kobe Scores 50 as Lakers Beat Sonics to Lock Up Playoff Birth
Kobe Bryant scored 50 points and grabbed 8 rebounds to the lead the Los Angeles Lakers (41-40) past the Seattle Supersonics (31-50) 109-98 and clinched a playoff birth in the Western Conference.
The Lakers jumped to a 20-4 lead as Kobe scored 15 points in the first seven minutes of the contest. Chris Wilcox tried to keep the Sonics within striking distance with eight in the quarter but Los Angeles carried a 29-15 lead into the second.
By midway through the second quarter the Lakers lead was 19 but the Sonics used a 19-9 run to close the half and went into the break trailing 55-46.
Seattle opened the third quarter on a 12-4 run and were within one but that’s when Kobe caught fire. Bryant hit two three-pointers in a row and scored 12 straight for the Lakers as they increased their lead to nine. Kobe finished the quarter with 18 as Los Angeles headed into the fourth with a 81-74 lead.
Each time Seattle tried to make a move on Los Angeles the Lakers responded. Rashard Lewis brought Seattle to within two but Lamar Odom hit a three-pointer to push the Lakers lead to five.
After Lewis hit a three-pointer to cut the Lakers lead to three Los Angeles went on an 11-0 run to secure the win.
