NBA Today (AP)
Allen Iverson, Chauncey Billups star for new teams (AP)
Allen Iverson and Chauncey Billups had big games for their new teams in two of the most difficult places to win in the NBA. Iverson, acquired from Denver for Billups, Antonio McDyess and Cheikh Samb, helped Detroit improve to 3-2 since the trade, scoring 25 points in the Pistons‘ 106-95 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.
Lakers Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)
As deep as the Lakers are in talent this season, they still look to Kobe Bryant when things get rough.
Bryant was able to come through in the fourth quarter in Dallas on Tuesday night in a Lakers victory. He struggled but hit a clutch three-point shot with a minute left in New Orleans on Wednesday night in another victory.
But Bryant struggled to get his shot on track Friday night, shooting 7-of-22 from the field while Detroit built a 91-71 lead at Staples Center. Bryant got hot briefly thereafter, but it was far too little and too late.
The Lakers want to establish a team flow on offense, more often using big men Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol inside as the building blocks.
Even without Garnett, Celtics pull through in OT NBA/~4/454598508″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>
LeBron plays Jazz for 38; Cavs win 7th straight NBA/~4/454553982″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>
Pedregon, Beckman need to come from behind at Fairplex
Talk of clutch in drag racing usually refers to the disk engagement, not a 20-point, fourth-quarter performance by the Lakers‘ Kobe Bryant in a one-point win.