Sports | basketball Nowitzki, Mavs Overpower Kobe, Lakers Bryant's 40 can't revive LA from poor effort in third quarter By Mike Buss Posted Jan 26, 2008 8:17 AM CST Copied Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) reacts to being fouled as he drives past Dallas Mavericks forward Trenton Hassell, right, in the first half of an NBA game in Dallas, Friday, Jan. 25, 2008. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) (Associated Press) A superior third quarter allowed Dallas to survive a barrage of points by the Lakers' Kobe Bryant late in the game last night, to win 112-105. Bryant, the second-leading scorer in the NBA, dropped in 40 for the second time since teammate Andrew Bynum was injured. Josh Howard and Dirk Nowitzki led the Mavericks with 26 points and 10 rebounds apiece. Bryant single-handedly tried to bring LA back in the final period with 16 points but Mavs guard Devin Harris scored two key baskets to clinch it. Bryant struggled on both ends of the floor in the third, making only one shot and playing poor defense as the Lakers dropped their second straight in Texas; they lost Wednesday at San Antonio. Read These Next President Trump says he had a 'very good call' with Gov. Walz. A look at President Trump's fast pivot on Minneapolis. During a stormy takeoff in Maine, plane ends up 'upside down.' Treasury drops Booz Allen over Trump tax return leak. Report an error