Lakers Vs Nets Tickets
GAME: L.A. Lakers 99, New Jersey 95
DATE/TIME: Friday, December 22 - 7:30 PM EST
SPREAD: New Jersey -3 TOTAL: 203
From Covers.com

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -The flu only slowed Kobe Bryant it didn't stop him.

Kobe Bryant had 21 points, a season-high 11 assists and combined with Jordan Farmar to lead the Los Angeles Lakers in the fourth quarter in a 99-95 victory over the New Jersey Nets on Friday night.

"It's a struggle," Bryant said of playing with the illness. "I'm looking forward to going back to the room and getting some rest. I have been struggling with it right before we came out on the road trip. I've been trying to fight it off. Last night it caught up to me."

Kobe Bryant and Jordan Farmar got going when the Nets caught up to the Lakers early in the fourth quarter.

Kobe Bryant had nine points and his last assist and Farmar had five points and two assists in the final quarter. The Lakers also got good efforts from reserves Andrew Bynum (four points, four rebounds) and Maurice Evans (five points) down the stretch in holding off the Nets for the second time this season.

"I didn't think our starters came out with the right focus and they lost the lead right away in the third quarter," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "If they (the reserves) play minutes they are going to have some effect on the game."

Vince Carter had 33 points, Jason Kidd added 16 points and nine assists and Richard Jefferson had 18 points for New Jersey, which may have lost more than the game. Starting center Nenad Krstic injured his left knee midway through the third quarter and he had to be helped off the court. An MRI exam was planned for Saturday to determine the extent of the injury.

"I went to spin," Krstic said in a statement. "My knee twisted and I heard a pop."

Down 98-85 with less than 3 minutes to play, the Nets scored 10 straight points to get within three. Carter had a chance to tie it with 2 seconds left but his 3-pointer hit off the rim and Bryant got the rebound. He added a free throw to close out the scoring.

"I had a great look," Carter said. "I let it go and it felt like it was going in."

After Nets rookie Marcus Williams hit a 3-pointer to tie it at 83 early in the fourth quarter, Los Angeles went on a 15-2 spurt to take a 98-85 lead with 2:57 to go.

Andrew Bynum, the former New Jersey high school star, started the spurt with a layin and Bryant expanded the lead to four points, converting an alley-oop pass from Farmar, who finished with 10 points.

Two free throws by Bryant and one by Vladimir Radmanovic gave Los Angeles a 90-83 edge.

A jumper by Carter got the Nets within five, but Evans hit a jumper, Andrew Bynum scored a layup and Bryant who only took 13 shots in a game in which he was content to pass, added four more free throws.

"It's just the way they play," Bryant said of the Nets' defense. "It's one of those teams that is absolutely bent on me not scoring. They throw everything but the kitchen sink. The challenge I have is to make teams see that I can just be as big a threat passing the ball."

The Nets made their comeback on a three-point play by Mikki Moore, two baskets by Jefferson and a 3-pointer by Kidd with 31.6 seconds to go.

Bryant missed a shot on the Lakers' next possession, giving the Nets their last shot.

Los Angeles had a foul to give with 6.3 seconds to go. Carter took the inbounds pass and missed his chance to tie it.

Krstic, averaging 16.4 points and 6.8 rebounds, was hurt with a little more than 6 minutes left in the third quarter. He caught a pass from Jefferson in the lane and started to back his man down in the lane. His knee gave out and he fell to the court.

"He couldn't put any pressure on his knee," Kidd said. "You hope for sprain. That's the best case scenario and you go from there."

Notes: A transformer malfunction outside the arena caused the lights to dim early in the first quarter. Play was suspended for about four minutes and the quarter was finished with reduced lighting. ... The Texas Bowl-bound Rutgers football team attended the game. ... The game was the third of a six-game road trip for the Lakers, now 2-1. ... New Jersey is now 1-12 in games in which it scores less than 100 points. ... The Lakers were 12-of-24 from 3-point range with Brian Cook hitting 3-of-4.

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NBA Future:
Brandon Rush
Full name is Brandon L. Rush... Born July 7, 1985... Undecided major... Brother, Kareem, was a two-time All-Big 12 First Team selection at Missouri in 2001 and 2002 and has played four seasons in the NBA... Brother, JaRon, played collegiately at UCLA... Was ranked No. 13 overall and No. 2 small forward, behind KU teammate Julian Wright, by Rivals.com... Brandon Rush pulled out of the NBA draft in summer of 2005 and joined the KU team in August... Twice named an all-star at the Reebok ABCD Camp and was the 2004 ABCD Camp most valuable player while playing for AAU KS Rocktown... Brandon Rush was a late addition to the USA Men's Junior National select team at the ninth annual Hoop Summit in Memphis, Tenn., following the 2004-05 season.

NBA Future:
Ronald Steele
Ronald Steele is an American basketball player for the University of Alabama. He raised his NBA draft profile a lot during his sophomore year. He decided to return for his junior year, and will likely be a first round draft pick in the 2007 NBA Draft. He is capable from scoring inside, from the perimeter, and grabbing rebounds, proving his versatility. He attended John Caroll High School, and led the school to an undefeated 36-0 record in his junior season.

In August 2006, Steele attended a basketball camp ran by legendary basketball player Michael Jordan. After giving him tips and "a lot of compliments," Jordan invited Steele to play in a two-on-two pickup game.

Ronald Steele
Position: G
Class: Junior
Ht: 6-3 Wt: 185
College: Alabama
Hometown: Birmingham

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