The Lakers rallied in the final minutes to stay in the playoff picture with a 118-116 home victory over the Golden State Warriors Friday night, but Los Angeles will likely be without Kobe Bryant for the rest of the season. The team announced immediately after the game that Bryant probably has a torn Achilles’. He will have an MRI exam Saturday.
‘‘I can’t walk,’’ Bryant said. ‘‘I tried to maybe put pressure on my heel, but there was nothing there.’’
Bryant scored 34 points while playing much of the second half in obvious pain. He stayed in the game until 3:06 remained despite mobility limitations and two lengthy breaks. Bryant apparently hyperextended his knee earlier in the second half.
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The Lakers stayed one game ahead of Utah for the eighth playoff spot in the Western Conference with two games to go. The Jazz hold the tiebreaker.
Stephen Curry scored 47 points in a dynamic performance for the Warriors.
Jazz 107, Timberwolves 100 — Al Jefferson tied a career high with 40 points, including a clutch jumper with 39 seconds left, to power Utah past Minnesota in Salt Lake City.
The Jazz have two games left, and need to win out and hope the Lakers lose to either San Antonio or Dallas to get the final playoff spot.
Spurs 108, Kings 101 — Tony Parker had 22 points and 10 assists, and host San Antonio never trailed despite the loss of two key players.
The Spurs waived forward Stephen Jackson. Hours earlier, the Spurs lost reserve forward Boris Diaw, who will miss 3-4 weeks after having surgery to have a synovial cyst removed from his lumbar spine.
Thunder 106, Trail Blazers 90 — Russell Westbrook scored 33 points, including 17 in the third quarter, to help visiting Oklahoma City blow away Portland. The Thunder remained a half-game up on San Antonio for the top seed in the Western Conference.
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Grizzlies 82, Rockets 78 — Marc Gasol had 15 points and 12 rebounds, and Memphis snapped a 13-game losing streak in Houston.
Memphis last won in Houston in April 2006. James Harden scored 30 points, but missed a potential game-tying jumper from the top of the key just before the buzzer.
Raptors 97, Bulls 88 — Amir Johnson had 24 points and nine rebounds, Rudy Gay scored 23 points, and host Toronto earned its second straight win over Chicago.
Bulls guard Richard Hamilton was tossed after intentionally colliding with DeMar DeRozan and attempting to punch him in the face. He was called for a flagrant 2, which carries an automatic ejection.
Knicks 101, Cavaliers 91 — Carmelo Anthony scored 31 points with 14 rebounds in just three quarters and New York bounced back after having their winning streak stopped at 13 games one night earlier by beating host Cleveland.
Nets 117, Pacers 109 — Deron Williams scored 33 points and Brooklyn secured home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs with a victory over Indiana in Indianapolis.
Clippers 96, Hornets 93 — Blake Griffin scored 20 points and visiting Los Angeles overcame a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter to top New Orleans.
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In other games, the Mavericks outlasted the visiting Nuggets, 108-105, as O.J. Mayo hit tiebreaking 3-pointers late in regulation and overtime; the Hawks used a 13-0 run in the fourth quarter to surge past the Bucks, 109-104, in Atlanta; the 76ers beat the host Wizards, 97-86, behind 22 points from Jrue Holiday; and the host Pistons routed the Bobcats, 113-93, as Jonas Jerebko scored 21 points.
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