Kobe lifts Lakers over Celtics in Boston farewell

Kobe Bryant received the love and went out on top in his final game in Boston.
Bryant had 15 points and 11 rebounds, including the game-sealing triple down the stretch, and the LA Lakers snapped the Celtics’ four-game winning streak, 112-104 on Wednesday.
Bryant has been receiving cheers and standing ovations at every NBA arena during his farewell tour, since announcing his retirement at the end of this season - his 20th.
The scene was no different at normally hostile TD Garden because of the storied rivalry between the two clubs, as the Celtics fans showed their appreciation for the 17-time All-Star by serenading the villainous “Black Mamba” with choruses of “Kobe, Kobe” from beginning and especially at the end.
Bryant acknowledged it with waives to the appreciative sold-out crowd as he walked off the famed parquet court for the last time.
“It’s such a surreal experience. It’s amazing to being able to play here, having a rivalry with this franchise and having this kind of a reception means so much to me,” he said. “I can’t believe it’s the last time I’m going to be here looking down at the logo.
“It’s the memory, it’s the legacy of this organization,” he continued. “It feels like yesterday we were playing in the (2010) NBA Finals.”
Jordan Clarkson scored 24 points, Lou Williams had 19 and Julius Randle uted 15 with 12 rebounds for the lowly Lakers (6-27) who ended their four-game slide.
“It was great that they honoured greatness,” Clarkson said.
The Lakers built a 14-point third quarter cushion but couldn’t sustain. Instead, the Celtics charged to within 104-102 on an Avery Bradley layup with 1:58 left.
Bryant then made another indelible memory, burying his straight-away 3-pointer with 1:40 left for a five-point lead that effectively clinched the victory.
“Honestly, I was tired,” said Bryant, who finished 5-of-18 field shooting, with three assists and four turnovers in 33 minutes. “But I got my legs under the shot and once it went down I said thank God.”
Isaiah Thomas led Boston (18-14) with 24 points, while reserve Evan Turner added 20 with eight assists.

Elsewhere:
•Dallas Mavericks 114, Golden State Warriors 91: The mighty Warriors didn’t have league top scorer Stephen Curry and no chance. J.J. Barea scored 23 points, Zaza Pachulia had 14 with 16 rebounds and the host Mavs (19-13) sent the league-best Warriors (29-12) to their second loss of the season, as Curry sat out because of a lower left leg bruise.
•LA Clippers J.J. Redick fired in 26 points, Austin Rivers added a season-best 22 and the visiting Clippers (20-13) - minus their top scorer Blake Griffin because of a torn left quadriceps muscle - held off the Hornets for their fourth consecutive victory. Kemba Walker scored 29 points for the Hornets (17-14), who will be without centre Al Jefferson for at least six weeks following arthroscopic right knee surgery.
•Orlando Magic 100, Brooklyn Nets 93: Nik Vucevic scored 20 points, Frenchman Evan Fournier added 17 and the Magic (19-13) rallied from 13 down to clip the visiting Nets (9-23) despite Brook Lopez’ 24-point, 15-rebound effort.
•Toronto Raptors 94, Washington Wizards 91: DeMar DeRozan had 34 points, and Kyle Lowry made two free throws with 15 seconds left, as the Raptors (20-13) held off the visiting Wizards (14-16), who received a 19-point, 11- assist outing from John Wall.
•Chicago Bulls 102, Indiana Pacers 100 (OT) Jimmy Butler tipped in Pau Gasol’s lob pass with 1.2 seconds left in overtime and deflected one intended for Paul George on the final play of the game, lifting the Bulls (18-12) over the visiting Pacers (18-13).
Aaron Brooks had 29 points while Butler added 28 as the Bulls (18-12) won for the third time in four games despite guard Derrick Rose being scratched with right hamstring
tendinitis.
•Minnesota Timberwolves 94, Utah Jazz 80: Karl-Anthony Towns had 25 points with 10 rebounds, Spaniard Ricky Rubio dished out a career-high-tying 17 assists, and the T-Wolves (12-20) beat the visiting Jazz (13-17) paced by Trey Burke’s 23 points.
•San Antonio Spurs 112, Phoenix Suns 79: LaMarcus Aldridge had 21 points with 12 rebounds and the Spurs (28-6) ran their franchise-home record streak to 28, including 19-0 to start the season, after sending the Suns (12-21) to their sixth straight loss.
•Portland Trail Blazers 110, Denver Nuggets 103: C.J. McCollum scored 29 points and the Trail Blazers (14-20) - without their top scorer Damian Lillard (left foot plantar fasciitis) - won their third in a row after beating the visiting Nuggets (12-21) despite Will Barton’s game-high 31.
•Philadelphia 76ers 110, Sacramento Kings 105: Nerlens Noel scored a season-high 20 points, recently-acquired Ish Smith had five of his 18 down the stretch, and the league-worst Sixers (3-31) improved to 2-19 on the road after trimming the Kings (12-20) led by DeMarcus Cousins’ game-high 21-point, 11-rebound  effort.