Lakers comeback gives Milwaukee Bucks the blues
Reuters, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Shaquille O'Neal collected 24 points and 11 rebounds to help the Los Angeles Lakers move into a tie for sixth place in the Western Conference with a comeback 98-94 win over the Milwaukee Bucks Saturday.
Kobe Bryant added 20 points for the Lakers (37-28), who have won two in a row and eight of their last 11 games.
After a slow start, the three times NBA champions are now tied with Utah for sixth place in the West.
Los Angeles trailed by 18 points at one point but outscored the Bucks 23-8 in the third quarter after falling 64-49 behind at the half.
Four of Bryant's points came in the final 36 seconds as the Lakers won on the road for only the 13th time in 31 games this season. O'Neal also had five assists.
Milwaukee (32-34) dropped into a tie with Washington for the final playoff spot in the East after its third consecutive loss.
In Seattle, Antawn Jamison scored 26 points to lead the Golden State Warriors to a 94-88 victory over the SuperSonics.
Jason Richardson added 21 points as Golden State made it two successive wins and eight from the last 11.
Rashard Lewis had 28 points and eight rebounds for the SuperSonics while Ray Allen added 21.
In Orlando, Tracy McGrady scored 34 points as the Magic defeated the New Orleans Hornets 96-86.
McGrady recorded at least 30 points for the sixth successive game and for the 40th time this season to help Orlando (34-33) snap a two-game losing streak.
David Wesley had 24 points for the Hornets, who have lost three of their last five.
In Washington, Jerry Stackhouse notched 37 points to lead the Wizards to an 89-82 win over the Miami Heat.
Michael Jordan added 19 points as Washington improved to 32- 34, still ninth in the Eastern Conference.
Brian Grant scored 16 points and hauled down 11 rebounds for the Heat. Travis Best also had 16 points for Miami, which has lost two games in a row.
In Detroit, Paul Pierce collected 33 points as the Boston Celtics exacted revenge on the Pistons with an 81-71 win.