NBA: Lakers fall despite 31 from Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant played like it was the NBA playoffs and not a preseason game, but his performance was not enough to lift his Los Angeles Lakers, as they were blown out 114-80 by the Utah Jazz at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, Tuesday (Wednesday, PHL time). Bryant played 29 minutes, including all 12 of the third quarter, on route to a game-best 31 markers, but it wasn't enough to top the Jazz, which saw seven players hit double figures in scoring. The Lakers in contrast, had just Jodie Meeks with 12 points, aside from 'The Black Mamba'. The Lakers led by as much as four points in the first quarter, but after a free throw by Antawn Jamison broke an 11-all tie with 3:09 left in the period, the Jazz closed out the frame out with a 15-3 run, to lead 26-15 after 12 minutes of play. Utah was on top by as much as 41 points, 101-60, on a lay-up by DeMarre Carroll, off an assist by Randy Foye, with 8:23 left in the game. Gordon Hayward led Utah with 13 points, while Al Jefferson and Alec Burks added 12 each. LA played minus power forward Pau Gasol, while Steve Nash figured in just 12 minutes, tallying two points and four turnovers. In Indianapolis, the home team Pacers got 20 points from Paul George and a 16-point, 11-rebound, six-block effort from Roy Hibbert to bounce the Atlanta Hawks, 102-98. Over in Boston, Mirza Teletovis stole the game for the Brooklyn Nets, getting a split from the foul line that ultimately gave the newly-christened franchise a 97-96 win. The Celtics had two looks to try to pull off the win, but Micah Downs and Kris Joseph had their attempts rebuffed. Paul Pierce poured in 29 points, but the second-string Nets proved feistier, gutting out the win without Joe Johnson, Brook Lopez, Gerald Wallace and Deron Williams, who all sat out the game. In other matches, the Detroit Pistons kept the Orlando Magic winless in the preseason with a 112-86 victory, the Chicago Bulls squeaked by the Milwaukee Bucks 100-94, the reigning Western Conference champions Oklahoma City Thunder easily handled the Charlotte Bobcats 120-98, and the visiting Maccabi Haifa were dispatched by the Minnesota Timberwolves, 114-81. - AMD, GMA News