Close win for L.A. is Kobe-led in the end

LeBron James' streak of getting 30 points and seven rebounds was snapped.
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The game was on the line, meaning it was Kobe Time.
All indications were Kobe Bryant wasn't up to the task because of a sore right wrist.
He wouldn't stand for that.
Bryant scored his team's last six points on three long jumpers including the go-ahead shot with 8.6 seconds left, and the Los Angeles Lakers beat LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers 99-98 on Thursday night.
"I just decided I cannot miss these," said Bryant, who had failed to convert his previous three field-goal attempts in the fourth quarter and was 6-for-18 overall.
He would finish 9-for-21 for 27 points.
Strong-willed
"He's a strong-willed dude," teammate Lamar Odom said.
Bryant, who had scored at least 40 points in his previous five games, sprained his wrist in the second quarter when James' elbow accidentally came in contact with it. X-rays of his wrist at halftime were negative.
Bryant sat out the first five minutes of the fourth period before taking over in the late going.
"It's pretty sore," he said. "I iced it. I'll come in early in the morning and get treatment."
Bryant said he told his teammates to pick up the slack because his hand was bothering him and it was tough to shoot the ball.
"They did a great job carrying me through the game," he said.
At least until the stretch run.
"His last three shots were just amazing," James said. "The guy was shooting shots like he was the only person in this arena. He has been through this before -- he has [championship] rings."
Clutch shots
Bryant's 18-footer with 1:30 remaining gave the Lakers a 95-93 lead.
After Zydrunas Ilgauskas scored for Cleveland, Bryant hit a 22-footer with 50 seconds to play, putting the Lakers ahead again.
Then, following a layup by Drew Gooden of the Cavaliers, Bryant made a 20-foot shot from the left wing, making it 99-97.
Bryant fouled James with 5.2 seconds to play, and James made his first three throw before missing the second. Gooden got the rebound, but after a timeout, James missed from about 18 feet while being closely guarded by Bryant as the buzzer sounded.
"The shot felt great, I didn't hesitate," James said. "It was short. They won and we lost."
Cavaliers coach Mike Brown had no problem with the last play, either.
"The shot he had was a great look," Brown said. "It just didn't go down. That happens sometimes."
Odom had 20 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, Chris Mihm scored 15 points, and Smush Parker added 12 for the Lakers (19-17), who won for the fourth time in five games.
Other numbers
Ilgauskas scored 29 points and James had 28 points and nine assists for the Cavaliers (20-13), who lost for just the fourth time in 13 games. Gooden finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds and Luke Jackson added 11 points -- all but two in the fourth quarter.
James' streak of getting at least 30 points, seven rebounds and five assists was snapped at seven games. He had only two rebounds. Oscar Robertson and Wilt Chamberlain are the only other players to have accomplished that feat.
Neither team led by more than three points after Jackson made two straight 3-pointers to put the Cavaliers on top 86-85 with 4:43 remaining.
"This should be a confidence-booster for our team, especially after the game last night," Odom said, referring to the Lakers' 113-103 setback Wednesday night at Portland.