Kobe eclipses 30,000 in Lakers’ win

NEW ORLEANS – Kobe Bryant scored 29 points, making him the fifth player in NBA history to score 30,000, and the Los Angeles Lakers snapped a two-game skid with a 103-87 victory over the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday night.

Bryant entered the game needing only 13 points to eclipse the scoring milestone and did so with a short jumper late in the first half that was perhaps the least spectacular of his baskets, which included the usual array of soaring dunks, demoralizing transition 3-pointers and turnaround, off-balance jumpers.

Knicks 100, Bobcats 98: At Charlotte, N.C., with Carmelo Anthony nursing a lacerated finger, New York turned to J.R. Smith for the last shot, and he delivered. Smith hit a fallaway jumper from the left wing as time expired to give the Knicks a victory over Charlotte.

Pacers 99, Trail Blazers 92: At Indianapolis, Paul George scored 22 points to help Indiana beat Portland.

Celtics 104, Timberwolves 94: At Boston, Kevin Garnett scored 18 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and remained unbeaten against his former team as Boston beat Minnesota in Celtics guard Rajon Rondo’s return from a two-game suspension.

Warriors 104, Pistons 97: At Auburn Hills, Mich., Klay Thompson scored 19 of his 27 points in the third quarter, and Golden State pulled away to beat Detroit.

Hawks 108, Nuggets 104: At Atlanta, Josh Smith’s steal, jam and free throw with 31 seconds remaining extended Atlanta’s lead, and the Hawks held on to beat Denver.

San Antonio 110, Milwaukee 99: At San Antonio,