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Red-hot Bryant, Lakers look to tame surging Hawks

Feb 5, 2007 - 2:50 PM LA Lakers (29-19) at Atlanta (18-28) 7:00 pm EST

ATLANTA (Ticker) -- All-Star Kobe Bryant has taken over for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Coming together in recent games, Bryant and the Lakers look to continue their recent winning ways Monday when they visit the surprising Atlanta Hawks.

After a three-game losing streak, Los Angeles has turned it around, winning two of its last three contests., including Saturday's 118-102 triumph over the Washington Wizards.

Bryant outdueled fellow superstar Gilbert Arenas in an entertaining showdown of MVP candidates. He scored 39 points to Arenas' 37 in a rematch of their duel on December 17. Bryant scored 45 points in that game but was overshadowed by Arenas' franchise-record 60 in the Lakers' overtime loss.

Averaging 34 points in his last three games, Bryant will look to keep his stellar play going against the Hawks, who posted a dramatic 101-99 overtime victory over New Jersey on Sunday.

Joe Johnson scored 37 points but it was Tyronn Lue, who played just 24 seconds in overtime, that nailed the game-winning shot at the buzzer.

Atlanta was defeated by Los Angeles, 108-95, in the first meeting between the squads on December 8. Injured forward Luke Walton scored 25 points for the Lakers.

Coming off its first winning month since April 2004, Atlanta has won five of its last seven games and is just 3 1/2 games behind Miami for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.