Kobe Bryant scored 34 points to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 105-102 victory over Minnesota Friday, a defeat made more painful for the Timberwolves by a late injury to Ricky Rubio. Bryant surpassed a remarkable 29,000 career points with 12 in the first half, but the milestone was less important than the win after two disappointing defeats to lowly opponents in Detroit and Washington. For Minnesota, the real blow may not be felt until Saturday, when rising star Rubio has an MRI exam on his injured left knee. The young Spaniard fell to the court grasping his knee after a collision with Bryant with 16.4 seconds left in the game. Teammates helped him to the locker room at the end of the game. The big concern, not only for the rest of the NBA season but also with European champion Spain's London Olympic challenge looming, is the possibility of damaged ligaments that would require lengthy recovery. Bucks 119, Knicks 114: The reeling New York Knicks lost their fourth straight game on Friday, falling to the Milwaukee Bucks to complete a dispiriting four-game NBA road trip. Ersan Ilyasova scored 26 points and Brandon Jennings and Mike Dunleavy scored 25 apiece for the Bucks — who improved to 16-24 and moved within two games of 18-22 New York for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Cavs 96, Thunder 90: Antawn Jamison scored 21 points and Anthony Parker added 14 as struggling Cleveland shocked NBA leaders Oklahoma City Friday. Oklahoma star Kevin Durant scored 23 points and Russell Westbrook added 19, but they missed seven shots between them as the scoring dried up for the Thunder in the final three minutes. The Cavs snapped the Thunder's 14-game home winning streak, although Oklahoma's 17-2 home record remains the best in the league. Nets 83, Bobcats 74: Kris Humphries had 20 points and 15 rebounds, and the Nets overcame an injury to the All-Star guard Deron Williams to defeat the host Charlotte Bobcats. Anthony Morrow scored all 17 of his points in the fourth quarter to help the Nets break open a tight game. 76ers 104, Jazz 91: Lou Williams and Thaddeus Young scored 21 points each for host Philadelphia against Utah. Evan Turner had 16 points and 12 rebounds, Jrue Holiday also scored 16 points, and Andre Iguodala added 10 points, 10 assists and 7 rebounds for the Sixers, who followed Wednesday's 32-point victory over the Boston Celtics with another impressive performance. Celtics 104, Trail Blazers 86: Paul Pierce and Ray Allen each scored 22 points and Boston rebounded from a lopsided loss and handed one to Portland. The win came after Boston lost by 32 points at Atlantic Division-leading Philadelphia on Wednesday, its worst setback in more than six years. Pistons 86, Hawks 85: Tayshaun Prince made a driving left-handed shot with 24.3 seconds remaining, and Detroit held on to beat Atlanta. In other games it was: New Jersey 83, Charlotte 74; LA Clippers 120, San Antonio 108; Denver 110, New Orleans 97; Sacremento 110, Dallas 97.
