National Basketball Association

Resurgent Kobe Bryant leads Lakers past Pelicans, 99-96

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 9:18 p.m. ET

foxsports

NEW ORLEANS (AP) Kobe Bryant scored 27 points, hitting three pivotal 3-pointers in the last six-plus minutes, and the Los Angeles Lakers won their second straight, 99-96 over the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday night.

Bryant, who scored a season-high 38 points at Minnesota two nights earlier, held his follow-through as his final 3 went through with a minute left to put the Lakers up 98-92, then wagged his index finger as if to say, ''Don't doubt me,'' as he jogged back up court with a good portion of the crowd cheering wildly.

Bryant missed a free throw with 6 seconds left that allowed the Pelicans a chance to tie the game with a 3, but Jrue Holiday's shot missed the rim.

Anthony Davis scored 39 for the Pelicans, but his missed breakaway dunk in the fourth quarter seemed to define the night for New Orleans, which lost its third straight.