Raptors center Andrea Bargnani had 21 points and eight rebounds Tuesday at the Lakers. This was his highest-scoring game since Feb. 26 against Cleveland and the first time he’s had more than 15 points in his past five games.
Toronto forward Chris Bosh scored 22 points, seven rebounds and four assists Tuesday night at the Lakers in his second game back from a seven-game injury absence. Bosh had 12 points and 12 rebounds in his first game back from the ankle injury Sunday against the 76ers.
Lakers center Pau Gasol had 17 points and nine rebounds Tuesday against Toronto. He failed to get a double-double for the first time in his past three games and only the second time in his past seven outings.
Lakers forward Lamar Odom had 10 points, eight rebounds and five assists Tuesday night against Toronto. Odom hasn’t scored 20 points since Feb. 28 against Denver, but he has contributed in other areas. In his past five games, Odom is averaging 8.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists.
Lakers center Andrew Bynum had 22 points, six rebounds and two blocks Tuesday night against Toronto. It was Bynum’s first 20-point game since Feb. 26 against Philadelphia, a span of six games. He had 19 points in his past two games combined prior to playing the Raptors.
Kobe Bryant never gets tired of being the Lakers’ closer. And though he savored the chance to stop Los Angeles’ longest losing streak in nearly three years with yet another flawless game-winning shot, Bryant is hoping he won’t have to bail out the Lakers quite so frequently in the final weeks before they defend their title. Bryant hit a 17-foot jumper with 1.9 seconds left, and the Lakers rallied in the fourth quarter to snap their three-game losing streak with a 109-107 victory against the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night. Chris Bosh hit a 3-pointer with 9.5 seconds left to tie it for the Raptors, who outplayed the champs for most of the first three quarters before losing on yet another big shot by Bryant, who scored 14 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter. Two days after missing a last-second shot in Orlando, Bryant didn’t hesitate to take the ball again on the wing. Bryant, who missed a shot at the buzzer in Los Angeles’ loss at Toronto in January, eluded Antoine Wright’s defense and glided nearly to the baseline for a graceful jumper. “That’s my responsibility here, to close things out,” Bryant said with a shrug. “The same shot in Orlando, and I missed it.”
According to Comcast Sports Net Bay Area, Warriors guard Monta Ellis practiced with the team Wednesday. Ellis has been out for the past six games with a strained lower back. He will be listed as questionable for Thursday’s game against Portland.
Warriors center Andris Biedrins had successful surgery Wednesday to repair a small tear in his abdominal muscle, but he’s not expected to return this season, according to Comcast Sports Net Bay Area.
The Arizona Republic reports that Suns guard Leandro Barbosa’s recovery from wrist surgery is going well. Barbosa practiced Tuesday for the first time since having surgery Jan. 26, and coach Alvin Gentry said Barbosa shot the ball well.
The Cleveland Plain-Dealer reports that Cavaliers guard Mo Williams missed practice Wednesday with a finger injury. But Williams is expected to play Friday night at the 76ers.
Cleveland forward Antawn Jamison remains day to day after he missed the fourth quarter of Monday’s win against the Spurs with a sore left knee. An MRI on Tuesday showed no damage, but Jamison says he has a cyst in the knee that periodically fills with fluid. He will be a game-time decision Friday, but plans to be ready on Sunday when Cleveland hosts Boston.
