Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Andrew Bynum finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds, as the Los Angeles Lakers held on for a 106-104 win over the Washington Wizards.
Kobe Bryant had 23 points, seven assists and seven boards for the Lakers, but made only 5-of-17 shots. Pau Gasol contributed 17 points, 10 boards and six assists in the win for LA, which has won two in a row and nine of 10.
Caron Butler had 26 points to pace the Wizards, who have lost two in a row and four of five. Antawn Jamison had 15 points and 12 rebounds, while Andray Blatche contributed 18 points and 12 boards off the bench in the loss.
Washington trailed by 15 points entering the fourth quarter, and was down by almost 20 shortly into the stanza, but used a 10-0 run to get back in the contest.
Antonio Daniels contributed six points, and Butler's basket ended the run to bring the Wizards within 99-90 with a little under six minutes remaining.
After the Lakers missed their next four shots, Butler had a jumper to get the Wizards within seven. The teams traded baskets until Blatche had back-to-back buckets, the second of which got the Wizards within 103-98 with less than two minutes on the clock. Butler followed with a pair of free throws, and after Bryant missed a shot, Butler's jumper made it 103-102 with under a minute left.
But on the other end, Bryant, despite nearly losing the ball, banked in a jumper to give the Lakers a three-point edge with 24.6 ticks left.
Washington needed a three to tie, but Blatche tipped in the ball with 14.6 seconds left to again make it a one-point game. Bryant was fouled, but made only the first shot, and the Wizards got the ball off his miss of the second.
Butler had the ball with the opportunity to tie or win the game, and opted for a three-pointer. He faked his defender off the initial shot, and with Jordan Farmar coming in for a deflection let a clean shot loose. But it bounced off the front of the rim as time expired, as the Lakers held on for the victory.
The Lakers made their first six shots en route to a 35-24 lead after one quarter, though the Wizards rebounded in the second to get within 58-53 at the break.
Los Angeles continued to front-run in the third, and an eight-point burst extended the club's margin to 80-63. The Lakers led 87-72 going into the final frame.
