Bryant dominates as Lakers edge Blazers

Reuters, Los Angeles

Kobe Bryant had a triple-double, scoring 33 points, as the shorthanded Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 98-95 in overtime in National Basketball Association play on Sunday.

Bryant put on a spectacular show for the Lakers (2-2), adding 14 rebounds and 12 assists to his 33 points as Los Angeles won its second straight game despite missing Shaquille O'Neal (toe injury) and Rick Fox (suspension) once again.

Devean George added 25 points for the Lakers, including two crucial free throws in the final minute of overtime.

Robert Horry pulled down 10 rebounds for Los Angeles and had four points.

Derek Anderson scored 24 points for the Trail Blazers, including a basket at the buzzer of regulation time that forced the overtime period.

Rasheed Wallace and Damon Stoudamire both added 16 points, while Ruben Patterson had 15. Dale Davis had nine points and 10 rebounds.

Scottie Pippen had a chance to tie the game in overtime, but his three-point attempt missed.

In Miami, Eddie Jones had 16 points and Malik Allen added 15 as the Heat won its first game of the season, downing the previously unbeaten Sacramento Kings 88-78.

Brian Grant was one of five Miami players in double-figures in scoring with 10 points. He also had 14 rebounds in just 28 minutes as the Heat improved to 1-2.

Miami coach Pat Riley had never started a season 0-3 in his career and didn't this year thanks to his bench players, who sparked a 12-0 run in the fourth quarter to put the game away.

Caron Butler had 13 points for the Heat, all in the first half, and Travis best added 10.

Keon Clark had 19 points for the shorthanded Kings (3-1), who are missing several regulars, including Chris Webber and Mike Bibby.

Sacramento shot just 36 percent from the field and 2-for-14 from 3-point range.

Vlade Divac had 14 points for the losers and Bobby Jackson added 12.

In Los Angeles, Michael Olowokandi had 19 points and pulled down a career-high 20 rebounds to lead the Clippers to their first win, 74-72 over Detroit.

Elton Brand added 17 points and 13 rebounds for Los Angeles, which improved to 1-2.

Chinese center Wang Zhizhi came of the bench in the second half to score five points in 10 minutes during his longest playing stretch of the season.

Richard Hamilton's 25 points led Detroit.

Clifford Robinson had 13 points while Ben Wallace had 16 rebounds.

In Seattle, Gary Payton had 18 points and Desmond Mason added 16 as the SuperSonics improved to 3-0 with a 91-77 win over the Utah Jazz.

It was an embarrassing night for Utah's Karl Malone, who played just 15 minutes due to early foul trouble and didn't score a point, going 0-for-7.

It was the first time in his 18-year career that Malone had been held scoreless.

Vladimir Radmanovic added 15 and Peja Drobnjak and Kenny Anderson both had 10 for Seattle.

Andrei Kirilenko scored 17 points for the Jazz, while Matt Harpring added 16 and Scott Padgett chipped in 10.