Bobcats beat Lakers to end record losing streak

NEW YORK (Reuters) – The Charlotte Bobcats stunned the Los
Angeles Lakers 112-102 on Friday to snap a franchise record
13-game losing streak.

Former Laker Jumaine Jones poured in a career high 31
points, hitting all six of his shots in the opening quarter as
the Bobcats stormed to an early lead they would never
relinquish.

Primoz Brezec contributed 22 points to the Charlotte cause
while Raymond Felton added 16 points and eight assists as the
Bobcats posted just their second win this year and first since
January 10.

Kobe Bryant had another solid night, hitting 35 points in
the loss but the NBA’s leading scorer went stone cold in the
final quarter, failing to make a basket from the floor.

He scored just four points from the foul line as Los
Angeles slumped to their third defeat in four games.

The Bobcats opened the contest with a 7-0 run and never
looked back, leading 41-25 at the end of the first quarter and
61-53 going into the intermission.

Los Angeles ate away at the deficit in the third quarter,
trimming Charlotte’s lead to 86-84, only to watch the Bobcats
retake control with an early run in the fourth.

PISTONS FIRING

In Philadelphia, Richard Hamilton bagged 30 points and
Rasheed Wallace helped out with 20, leading the Detroit Pistons
past the shorthanded 76ers 87-80 for their 13th win in 14
games.

Tayshaun Prince added 16 points and Chauncey Billups dished
out 14 assists as the Pistons continued to lead the way in the
NBA standings, improving their record to a league best 39-6.

The 76ers missed their leader and top scorer Allen Iverson,
who missed his fourth consecutive game with an ankle injury.

With Iverson sidelined, Chris Webber led Philadelphia with
17 points and nine rebounds while Andre Iguodala contributed 13
points in the loss.

In Toronto, Chris Bosh nailed 29 points and grabbed seven
rebounds as the Raptors eased to a 104-90 win over the New York
Knicks, extending their winning streak to three games.

Morris Peterson had 21 points while Mike James contributed
15 points and 10 assists to the Toronto win.

The two teams completed a trade just before the opening
tip-off, the Raptors sending Jalen Rose and his $17 million
contract and a 2006 first round draft pick to New York for
Antonio Davis.

It is the second tour of duty in Toronto for Davis who
played for the Raptors from 1999 to 2003.

(Writing by Steve Keating in Detroit)