Kobe reaches 20,000-point milestone, Lakers hold off Knicks

Bryant scored 39 points to become the youngest player to reach 20,000, and the Los Angeles Lakers held off the struggling New York Knicks 95-90 on Sunday.

 Last season, Bryant didn't play in the Lakers' only visit to the Big Apple, due to a one-game league suspension. However, the reigning two-time league scoring champ put on a one-man show - reaching the milestone at 29 years, 122 days - faster than icons Wilt Chamberlain (29 years 13 days) and Michael Jordan (29 years, 326 days).

 "This is the mecca, this is the centre of basketball," said Bryant, who added 11 rebounds and eight assists despite being slowed by a groin strain. "I always like playing here. This is my favorite arena to play in, so I'm just happy and relieved that I was able to play tonight."

   Andrew Bynum had 13 points and eight rebounds for the Lakers (17-10) who completed a 3-1 road trip.

 Jamal Crawford scored 31 points while Nate Robinson had 16 points and nine rebounds for the struggling Knicks (8-19) who fell for the eighth time in the last 10 games.

 Crawford tallied all but one of his points in the second half, rallying the Knicks from 25 down to within 91-90, following two free throws by David Lee with just under two minutes left.

 After Bryant's jumper with 57 ticks put the Lakers ahead 93-90, the Knicks looked to send the game into overtime. But Ronny Turiaf tipped an inbound pass intended for Robinson with 4.2 seconds left. Jordan Farmar made the seal and raced in for a breakaway dunk to seal the victory.

 "I just saw the ball right in front and went the other way with it," Farmar said. "We found a way to make it happen when we needed to."

   Elsewhere:    Boston Celtics 103, Orlando Magic 91    Paul Pierce scored 24 points, Rajon Rondo added 23 and the Celtics used a balanced attack to avenge an early season loss to the visiting Magic.

 After opening at 8-0, the Magic handed the Celtics their first loss on November 18. But Boston had little trouble in the rematch, built a 20-point cushion, and never allowed the lead to dip below 10 in the final stanza.

 Ray Allen had 22 points while Kevin Garnett collected 21 points and 12 rebounds for the league-best Boston (22-3) who have won 11 of its last 12 contests.

 Dwight Howard led Southwest-leading Orlando (18-11) with 23 points and 14 rebounds while Hedo Turkoglu tallied 19 points.

 Detroit Pistons 94, Houston Rockets 82    Richard Hamilton scored 17 points while Rasheed Wallace had 14 points along with 10 rebounds and the Pistons beat the short-handed Rockets for their fifth straight win.

 Argentine rookie Luis Scola scored a team-high 18 ponts and grabbed nine rebounds off the bench for the visiting Rockets (13-15) who have dropped four of five.

 Houston's high-scoring duo of Tracy McGrady had 14 points, but missed  the second half after aggravating his a sore left knee. Meanwhile, China's  superstar centre Yao Ming added 12 points, but sat out most of the final 24 minutes as well, after requiring four stitches to close a cut around his left eye.

 Golden State Warriors 105, Cleveland Cavaliers 96    Stephen Jackson scored 29 points, Baron Davis had 27 and 10 assists and the Warriors sent the stumbling Cavaliers to their 10th loss in 13 games.

 Monta Ellis netted 19 points and Al Harrington finished with 16 for Golden State (16-12), which finished 3-2 on its road trip.

 LeBron James scored 25 points and Zydrunas Ilgauskas added 20 for defending Eastern Conference champion Cleveland (12-16) which trailed by 27 in the third quarter.

 Denver Nuggets 106, Sacramento Kings 105    Linas Kleiza picked up a loose ball under his own basket and nailed the game-winning 22-foot jumper just before the final buzzer, rallying the Nuggets to a dramatic road victory over the Kings.

 Carmelo Anthony had 30 points and 12 rebounds for the Nuggets (16-11) who trailed by 15 at halftime. Allen Iverson scored 21 points, Marcus Camby finished with 19 points and 14 boards.

 Ron Artest led the Kings (11-15) with 24 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Brad Miller chipped in with 22 points and eight boards.

Knicks By Paul Levine, dpa