LA Lakers start hot, roll past Mavericks with 26 pts

DALLAS - The Associated Press

LA Lakers player Kobe Bryant (L) goes to the basket against Dallas Mavericks player Jae Crowder. EPA photo

Metta World Peace hit three early 3-pointers to spark a Los Angeles barrage from long range, and the Lakers scored 36 points before Kobe Bryant took his first shot in a 115-89 blowout of the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night.

Bryant, the league’s leading scorer, finished with 19 once he did start shooting as the Lakers hit the century mark for the first time in four games under hobbled coach Mike D’Antoni.

The Lakers won for the first time in five road games and avoided their worst start away from home in nearly 20 years.

O.J. Mayo, who led the league in 3-pointers going in, was 0 of 5 from long range and finished with 13 points. Vince Carter led Dallas with 16.

In Sacramento, Tyreke Evans scored 21 of his 27 points in the second half and slumping Sacramento Kings beat Utah Jazz 108-97. The Kings squandered a 13-point lead in a two-point loss Friday in Utah, but this time held on to win for only the second time in eight games.

Jason Thompson had 16 points and nine rebounds for Sacramento, which outscored the Jazz 56-41 in the second half. Aaron Brooks made three 3-pointers and scored 13 points. Sacramento committed 12 first-half turnovers, but had just two after intermission.

Kings center DeMarcus Cousins was ejected with 1:35 left in the third quarter after arguing over a foul he committed against Enes Kanter. Cousins, the Kings’ leading scorer and rebounder, had 13 points and nine rebounds.

LeBron leads Miami Heat

In Miami, Ray Allen took a pass from LeBron James and made a 3-pointer with 18.2 seconds left, and the Miami Heat rallied from a seven-point deficit in the final 1:52 to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 110-108. James finished with 30 points for the Heat, who remained perfect at home despite leading for only 2 minutes, 29 seconds. Chris Bosh scored 23 points, Dwyane Wade added 18 and Allen finished with 17 for the Heat, who lost Shane Battier in the third quarter to a sprained right knee.

Cleveland had a good look at the lead, but Wade blocked Jeremy Pargo’s jumper with 3 seconds left, and Allen added one free throw to stretch the lead to two. Cleveland controlled the rebound with 0.6 seconds left, but never got anything near the rim.

In Washington, Byron Mullens scored 27 points, Ramon Sessions had 20 and Ben Gordon added 19 as the Charlotte Bobcats earned their seventh win of the season and kept the Washington Wizards winless with a 108-106 double-overtime victory.