Bynum caps Lakers' rally over Celtics

The Lakers needed a last-minute basket to hold off the Boston Celtics, and Kobe Bryant knew everybody in green would expect him to take the shot.

That's why Bryant suggested Andrew Bynum should take it -- and the All-Star center leaped at the opportunity to seal Los Angeles' latest win in the NBA's most storied rivalry.

Bryant scored 10 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter, hitting a go-ahead jumper with 41.7 seconds to play, and Bynum's hook shot over Kevin Garnett capped the Lakers' 97-94 victory Sunday.

Bynum had 20 points and 14 rebounds as the Lakers rallied from a five-point deficit in the final 21/2 minutes, scoring the final eight points. Bryant and Bynum had four each -- but only after Bryant urged coach Mike Brown to use him as a decoy.

"Andrew is too big. You can't teach that," Bryant said with a grin. "I knew it was going to be a high-percentage shot."

After Bynum scored out of a timeout with 15.5 seconds left, Boston couldn't get a good look at a tying three-pointer, sending the Lakers to their third straight victory over their longtime rivals.

Bynum appeared to take particular satisfaction in his role in the victory after years as a supporting player to Bryant's late-game heroics.

"It was crazy," Bynum said. "Kobe came up with that play. He said, 'They're not going to be able to know what to do.' I was able to get deep position and go to work."

On Boston's final possession, Ray Allen failed to get free for a three-pointer before Rajon Rondo badly missed a desperate tying attempt.

Rondo had 24 points and 10 assists for the Celtics, who opened an eight-game road trip.

"You come into [this rivalry] with the mind-set that 'this is it,' '' said Allen, who scored 17 points. "It's almost as if this is for the championship every time we play them. It definitely was an entertaining game . . . Competitively speaking, we always will go at each other and play hard. There's talent on both sides, so it's always a great matchup whenever we meet."

The Lakers earned their 18th win in 19 home games, stylishly finishing their third straight victory over Boston in yet another thrilling meeting. Said Bynum, "We love beating this team."

Bucks 105, Raptors 99: Ersan Ilyasova had 31 points and 12 rebounds and Drew Gooden added 21 points as visiting Milwaukee earned its sixth straight victory over Toronto. Mike Dunleavy scored 19 points, including a go-ahead three-pointer in the fourth quarter, as the Bucks (17-24) pulled within one game of the Knicks (18-23) for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. DeMar DeRozan scored 21 points and Jerryd Bayless had 16 for the Raptors, who led by as many as 13 in the first half.

Cavaliers 118, Rockets 107: Antawn Jamison had 28 points and rookie Kyrie Irving scored 16 of his 21 points in the final 4:14 during a 37-point fourth quarter for host Cleveland (16-23), which also moved within one game of the eighth-place Knicks.

Luis Scola scored a season-high 30 points and Goran Dragic had 20 for Houston, which has lost six of seven.Magic 107, Pacers 94: Dwight Howard had 30 points and 13 rebounds and J.J. Redick added 18 points and nine assists for host Orlando. The Magic played without starters Hedo Turkoglu and Jason Richardson but built a 20-point lead in the first half and got 30 points from its reserves.

Paul George led the Pacers with 22 points, Tyler Hansbrough added 19 and Danny Granger had 18. The Pacers lost their fourth straight game.

-- AP