Kobe caps off January
Kobe Bryant is back in Wilt Chamberlain’s company again.
Bryant scored 40 points, despite making only one field goal in the second half, to cap off his sensational month and lead the Los Angeles Lakers over the frustrated New York Knicks 130-97 Tuesday night in New York.
Bryant sparked a pair of early runs, then spent the rest of the night leading a parade of Lakers to the foul line. He was 7 of 17 from the field and 23 of 26 at the line.
The NBA’s leading scorer averaged 43.4 points in 13 games this month, highlighted by his 81-point outing that was the second-best scoring game in NBA history. He joined Chamberlain as the only players in NBA history to average 40 or more points in a month more than once according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Chamberlain, whose 100-point game is the only one better than Bryant’s career-best outing, did it five times. Bryant also averaged 40.6 points in February 2003.
Elgin Baylor is the only other player to average 40 in a month.
Nets 91, Pistons 84: Jason Kidd had 23 points and 12 rebounds to lead New Jersey past Detroit in East Rutherford, N.J., snapping the Pistons’ NBA-best, 11-game winning streak.
Richard Jefferson and Nenad Krstic each scored 19 for New Jersey, which ended a four-game losing streak.
Chauncey Billups led Detroit with 30 points, including 6 for 6 from 3-point range.
Suns 123, 76ers 99: Boris Diaw had 14 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists for his first career triple-double, leading Phoenix to a victory over the 76ers in Philadelphia.
Raja Bell scored 21 points, Steve Nash had 17 and Shawn Marion had 15 points and 12 rebounds for the Pacific Division-leading Suns, who have won three of four.
Wizards 84, Pacers 79: Gilbert Arenas scored 20 points, and Antawn Jamison had 19 points and 18 rebounds to lead Washington to a victory over visiting Indiana, which lost its sixth straight game in a mostly ineffective debut for Peja Stojakovic.
Stojakovic, acquired last week from the Sacramento Kings for Ron Artest, scored 17 points on 4-for-10 shooting, including 1 for 6 from 3-point range, and was limited to 26 minutes because of foul trouble.
Kings 98, Nuggets 91: Ron Artest scored 19 points in his home debut, Kevin Martin added a career-high 25 and Sacramento held on for its 19th straight home victory over Denver.
Carmelo Anthony scored 24 points for the Nuggets, who lost their third straight.
Mavericks 98, Bulls 94: Dirk Nowitzki scored 21 points, the most important an open 3-pointer that helped prevent a major second-half meltdown, sending Dallas past visiting Chicago and stretching its season-best winning streak to nine straight.
Around the league
The Hornets will play most of their home games in Oklahoma City next season with New Orleans still recovering from Hurricane Katrina. The NBA announced that the Hornets will play 35 games in Oklahoma City and six in New Orleans in 2006-07. … Atlanta forward Josh Smith could become the third player to win consecutive NBA slam dunk contests when he participates in the event during All-Star weekend. Michael Jordan won back-to-back competitions in 1987-88 and Jason Richardson did it in 2002-03. Joining Smith this year will be Andre Iguodala of the 76ers, Knicks guard Nate Robinson and Hakim Warrick of Memphis. … The cast was removed from Corey Maggette‘s injured left foot and the Los Angeles Clippers said an X-ray revealed significant healing in the ligament he injured two months ago. He will be re-evaluated to two to three weeks. … Toronto traded center Aaron Williams to the Hornets for two second-round draft picks.