JOIN USBryant's effort goes in vain
Kobe Bryant moved past Shaquille O'Neal to become the NBA's fifth highest scorer on Monday but it was a bitter-sweet moment for the Los Angeles guard as the Lakers lost 95-90 to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Bryant finished with 28 points to reach a career total of 28,601, moving past O'Neal's 28,596. The all-time leader in points scored is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with 38,387.
Philadelphia trailed 86-79 with four and a half minutes to go when Lou Williams sparked a 14-2 run to send the Wells Fargo Center crowd into a frenzy.
"He's our closer," team-mate Spencer Hawes told reporters. "When he comes in at the end, he has the ability to make plays."
Williams scored 10 of his team-high 24 points during the spurt, including seven straight, to give the Atlantic Division-leading 76ers (18-7) their sixth win in seven games.
Los Angeles (14-11) lost their second in a row as they reached the halfway point of a six-game road trip. The Lakers are just 3-9 away from home this season.
Lakers' Andrew Bynum had 20 points and 20 rebounds.
Bryant roared out to a fast start by netting 24 first-half points, but Philadelphia quickly began double-teaming the All Star to derail his night. Bryant would make just 2 of his final 14 shots and was unable to stop the Los Angeles slide in the fourth.
Brown was serving a one-game ban for making contact with an official while arguing a call in the Lakers' loss to Utah on Saturday.
Philadelphia were without forward Elton Brand who missed a second straight game with a sprained thumb but they managed to stay close to Los Angeles.
The 76ers trailed by four at halftime before pulling ahead 70-69 after three quarters.
Jrue Holiday added 13 points and Andre Iguodala had 12 for the home team.
Billups injured
Los Angeles Clippers guard Chauncey Billups was helped off the court after injuring his left Achilles during his team's overtime victory over the Orlando Magic on Monday. Billups took an awkward step with no one around him and immediately fell to the floor midway through the fourth quarter. The Clippers, off to a 15-7 start and the lead in the Pacific Division, will send the guard for a scan on Tuesday.
"I'm hoping it's not that bad," Clippers point guard Chris Paul told reporters. "We know we have to lift up the team and pick up what we'll miss without him being on the court."
In the Eastern Conference, New York forward Carmelo Anthony also had to exit early after suffering a right groin injury.
Anthony, voted a starter for this month's All Star game, hurt his right groin while throwing an alley-oop during the first quarter and hobbled off the court. The Knicks beat Utah 99-88.
Other results: LA Clippers: 107 bt Orlando: 102 (OT); Washington: 111 bt Toronto: 108 (OT); Phoenix: 99 bt Atlanta: 90; Chicago: 108 bt New Jersey: 87; NY Knicks: 99 bt Utah: 88; Sacramento: 100 bt New Orleans: 92; San Antonio: bt 89 Memphis: 84; Houston: 99 bt Denver: 90; Oklahoma City: 111 bt Portland: 107 (OT).