8 Mar 2010

Orlando beat Lakers to continue winning streak

1:14 pm on 8 March 2010

The Orlando Magic held off the Los Angeles Lakers for a 96-94 win in the NBA basketball championship, with Lakers star Kobe Bryant missing the chance to tie the score as time expired.

In a rematch of the 2009 NBA Finals, Vince Carter had 25 points for the Magic, who overcame a game-high 34 points from Bryant.

Bryant picked up 18 points in the fourth quarter where the Lakers came back from 10 points down before losing their third game in a row.

It is the first time the Lakers, the team with the best record in the West, have not dropped three in a row since January 2008.

Orlando, second in the East, recorded their fifth consecutive win, with all five starters scoring in double figures.