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Bryant Reaches Milestone

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The Associated Press

Published: December 24, 2007

NEW YORK - From the jawing with Spike Lee and Chris Rock to the postgame news conference with his daughters on his lap, Kobe Bryant enjoyed every minute of his return to Madison Square Garden.

Making history made it even better.

Bryant scored 39 points, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to reach 20,000, and the Los Angeles Lakers held off the New York Knicks 95-90 Sunday.

Bryant added 11 rebounds and eight assists in his first game at the Garden in nearly two years. His 3-pointer in the opening minute of the third quarter allowed him to reach the milestone at 29 years, 122 days.

"I always like playing here, period," Bryant said. "Last year I didn't have an opportunity to play and I was upset about it. This is my favorite arena to play in so I'm just happy and relieved that I was able to play tonight."

Before Bryant, who was suspended last year when the Lakers came to New York, only Wilt Chamberlain (29 years, 134 days) and Michael Jordan (29, 326) had gotten there before turning 30.

CELTICS 103, MAGIC 91: Paul Pierce had 24 points to lead balanced scoring from the Celtics' starters as Boston raced past Orlando.
Rajon Rondo added 23 points for the Celtics (22-3), who have the best record in the NBA and avenged an earlier loss to the Magic.

The Celtics led by as many as 20 in the third quarter. But the Southeast Division-leading Magic, who handed the Celtics their first loss on Nov. 18, twice cut the lead to fewer than 10 in the fourth quarter.

PISTONS 94, ROCKETS 82: Richard Hamilton scored 17 points and Antonio McDyess and Rasheed Wallace added double-doubles, helping Detroit beat Houston.

The Rockets' Tracy McGrady didn't come out for the second half after aggravating a sore knee, while Yao Ming missed most of the second half after needing four stitches to close a facial cut.

WARRIORS 105, CAVALIERS 96: Stephen Jackson scored 29 points and Baron Davis added 27 to lead Golden State past struggling Cleveland.

The Warriors, playing the finale of a five-game trip, never trailed and built an 89-61 lead late in the third quarter.

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