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Bryant's late jumper lifts Lakers over Warriors

Mar 28, 2012 - 6:19 AM Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - Kobe Bryant made the go-ahead jumper with 32.3 seconds remaining and the Lakers held on for a 104-101 win over the Warriors on Tuesday.

Bryant scored a game-high 30 points despite shooting 9-of-24 from the floor. Pau Gasol added 19 points and 17 rebounds and Matt Barnes had 18 and 10 for Los Angeles, which was coming off of a 102-96 loss to Memphis.

"Our guys did a terrific job of keeping their composure and trying to execute," said Lakers coach Mike Brown.

David Lee gave Golden State its first lead of the game with 1:22 remaining and finished with 23 points, nine rebounds and four assists. Brandon Rush also scored 23 and Klay Thompson added 20 for the Warriors, who have lost 14 of their last 15 meetings with the Lakers.

Los Angeles led 79-68 late in the third before Thompson and Rush closed the quarter with consecutive buckets. The fourth opened with two free throws from Dominic McGuire and a Thompson stepback jumper, which cut Golden State's deficit to 79-76.

Richard Jefferson eventually tied it at 95 after a back-and-forth sequence which featured a deep three-pointer from Metta World Peace and eight points from Rush.

Lee's jump hook shot over a falling Gasol put the Warriors on top, 97-95, but Bryant answered on the other end with a fadeaway baseline jumper. After Thompson was blocked by World Peace, Bryant made a near-identical fadeaway for a 99-97 advantage.

Rush then missed a contested lefty layup with 26.9 seconds left and the Lakers made enough free throws the rest of the way to hold on for the win. They led by as many as 16 in the first half and were up, 55-48, at the break.

"I totally understand that we are playing the Los Angeles Lakers with a guy that's an absolute assassin," said Warriors coach Mark Jackson. "When you look at the roster, when you look at the starting lineup, I think it would be safe to say that the Lakers would drill us. The bottom line is, at the end of the day, I have a bunch of guys that compete, get after it, work extremely hard, have tremendous pride and we gave ourselves a chance."

Game Notes

Barnes' 18 points were a season-high and Gasol's 17 rebounds tied a season- high...Rush's 23 points and nine field goals were both season-highs...McGuire had a season-high five assists...Thompson had a career-high seven assists.