Bryant pours in 38 for surging Lakers

Kobe Bryant asked to be traded last spring in part because he wanted to play for a team that could contend for an NBA title.

He just might have gotten his wish by staying put.

Bryant scored 26 of his 38 points in the second half, Andrew Bynum had a career-high 28 points to go with 12 rebounds and a season-high 4 assists, and the host Los Angeles Lakers beat the Phoenix Suns 122-115 on Tuesday for their ninth win in 11 games.

"I'm focused on one thing and one thing only -- winning the championship," Bryant said after the Lakers moved a season-high 8 games over .500 at 18-10 and within 1 game of the Pacific Division-leading Suns.

Bryant, who complained about a lack of talent around him, has gotten plenty of help recently, especially from the 20-year-old Bynum, who shot 11 of 13 in outplaying Phoenix center Amare Stoudemire.

Bynum left to a roar of approval from the 18,997 at the Staples Center and a hand-slap from Bryant with 11.5 seconds to play.

"We're getting better. It's just about getting better each day," Bryant said. "It's good to have games like this. We have a solid foundation, we really do. When you play against Phoenix, you have to be solid."

Derek Fisher added 19 points, Lamar Odom had 15 points and 14 rebounds, and Trevor Ariza scored 14 points in his first start since being acquired from Orlando last month.

Steve Nash led the Suns (19-10) with 24 points and 14 assists. Six of his teammates scored in double figures including Stoudemire, who had 19 points but only 6 rebounds; Shawn Marion, who had 15 points and 10 rebounds; Raja Bell, who also scored 15; and Grant Hill, who added 14.

Cavaliers 96, Heat 82: LeBron James winced as he pressed the ice bag tightly against his swollen jaw.

On Christmas, he felt lucky to still have his two front teeth.

"I got elbowed by Shaq in the face, which is not a good thing," James said. "Ever."

James shook off the big man's blow to the head and scored 25 points, Drew Gooden had 18 and Cleveland's defense arrived in time for the holiday, sparking the struggling Cavaliers to a win over visiting Miami.

James, who left Quicken Loans Arena in disgust following an embarrassing loss to Golden State on Sunday, added 12 assists and outshined fellow superstar and good friend Dwyane Wade, who scored 22 points but didn't make his first field goal of the second half until there was only 4:01 remaining.

By then, the Cavaliers were already ahead by 12 points, and thanks to a defense that had gone AWOL for most of the season's first two months, they rolled to just their fourth win in the last 14 games.

"When we play defense we're a pretty good team," James said. "When we don't, we don't look so well -- simple as that. Today was a good step."

Daniel Gibson scored 16 points, including 6 on consecutive 3-pointers to open the fourth. Anderson Varejao scored 15 and Zydrunas Ilgauskas 13 for Cleveland, which had one of its most balanced games this season -- and its most lopsided win.

Wade finished 7 of 18 from the floor and 8 of 16 from the free-throw line for Miami (8-20), which began the season as one of the Eastern Conference's favorites but is headed in the wrong direction.

Wade refused to blame a sore right shoulder for his shooting woes.

"I was just missing shots," he said. "It wasn't their defense, it was nothing they did special."

Ricky Davis had 15 points and O'Neal 13 for the Heat.