Kobe gets LA back on track

Kobe 'The Kid' Bryant hit 37 points for the Lakers

Rockets 99-105 Lakers

Kobe Bryant got 37 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Lakers to a 105-99 victory over the Houston Rockets to break a two-game losing streak for the defending NBA champions.

Shaquille O'Neal, the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player, came in averaging 28.8 points and 13.2 rebounds but had his worst game of the season, managing just 14 points, five boards and six blocks before fouling out with 4:24 to play.

Having carried the offense to that point, Bryant took complete control in the final stages. After the Rockets got within four points, the All-Star guard scored Los Angeles' last six points.

Bryant's heroics rescued the Lakers (4-3) from dropping below .500 for the first time since November 25, 1996, when they were 6-7.

Sonics 92-101 Pistons

Jerry Stackhouse scored 38 points as the Detroit Pistons held on for a 101-92 victory over the struggling Seattle SuperSonics.

Having lost three of four on a five-game road trip, the Sonics got off to a terrible start, missing their first eight shots.

They trailed by 21 points midway through the third period but rallied behind Gary Payton, who had 29 points and eight assists. His basket tied it 86-86 with 4:18 remaining.

Michael Curry answered with a lay-up that gave Detroit the lead for good and Stackhouse followed with a 3-pointer for a 91-86 advantage with 3:18 to play.

The baskets triggered an 11-2 run that powered the Pistons to the win.

Mavericks 84-109 Kings

Peja Stojakovic and Chris Webber combined for 51 points as the Kings raced to their fourth straight victory, a 109-84 rout of the Dallas Mavericks.

Stojakovic scored 28 points, two shy of his career high, making 10-of-18 shots, including 4-of-7 from 3-point range, and fueled 11-0 surges in the first and third quarters.

Webber collected 23 points and 13 rebounds - he made 9-of-12 shots and was virtually unstoppable until spraining his left ankle late in the third quarter. He did not return, but was not needed.

Magic 105-99 Warriors

In Golden State, the Orlando Magic blew a nine-point lead in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter but capitalized in overtime for a 105-99 win over the Warriors, who committed 32 turnovers.

Tracy McGrady had 24 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, and backcourt partner Darrell Armstrong added 21 points for Orlando.

Antawn Jamison scored 23 points and Danny Fortson had 21 points and 21 rebounds to help the Warriors to a 49-39 advantage on the boards.

Golden State made 40-of-80 shots but lost its fifth straight following a season-opening win.

Clippers 79-95 Nuggets

In Denver, Antonio McDyess had 22 points and 13 rebounds as the Nuggets smothered the Los Angeles Clippers 95-79.

Brian Skinner had 23 points and 12 rebounds for the Clippers, who fell to 0-3 on the road.