Kobe Bryant and LeBron James put on an entertaining show in the final match-up between two of the NBA’s greatest players.
James scored 24 points and the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Los Angeles Lakers 120-108 on Thursday.
Bryant, who will retire at the end of this season, finished with 26 points on 11-of-16 shooting despite a sore right shoulder.
After the game, the two icons embraced on the court with James congratulating Bryant on his impressive 20-year career, as the sell-out Staples Centre crowd saluted the Lakers legend.
“This is a game the fans, myself and Kobe will never forget,” James said. “We both love the lights and we get up for the best moments.
“For us to give the fans and our beautiful sport one last opportunity to watch us both on the same floor and give them a show was great.
“He’s definitely one of the greatest to ever lace them up. I’m happy I was able to play on the same court as him.”   
Bryant enjoyed the final encounter against James, even though he lost the head-to-head series 16-6.  
“It was just fun playing against LeBron,” he said “I like the physicality of it, because of his size. Its always fun to bump with him. We both enjoyed having those match-ups.”
Lakers coach Byron Scott got caught up watching the future Hall of Famers battle it out.
“Just watching them going after each other was fun,” he said. “I think even at times I even find myself being a fan because that’s en epic match-up of two of the best ever.”
Kyrie Irving had 26 points while Channing Frye added a season-high 21 with five triples in place of Kevin Love (sore left knee) as the Eastern Conference-best Cavaliers (46-18) won for the fifth time in six games.  
- San Antonio Spurs 109, Chicago Bulls 101: Kawhi Leonard scored 29 points, LaMarcus Aldridge had 26 with 10 rebounds, and the Spurs extended their home winning streak to 40 - with 31 coming this season - after turning back the short-handed Bulls.
Frenchman Tony Parker had 20 points with a season-high 12 assists for the Spurs (55-10), who used a pivotal 8-0 run midway through the final frame to pull away for their 10th win in the last 11 games.
Spaniard Pau Gasol had 21 points with 12 rebounds while Derrick Rose also netted 21 for the Bulls (32-31), who lost their eighth straight on the road and five of seven overall. E’tuan Moore had 20 in place of injured All-Star Jimmy Butler (left knee strain).
lToronto Raptors 104, Atlanta Hawks 96: DeMar DeRozan dropped in a 30 points, Kyle Lowry added 19 and the Raptors (43-20) clipped the Hawks for their 14th win in the last 15 home games.
Al Horford scored 20 points for Atlanta (36-29), which had its three-game winning streak stopped.
- Denver Nuggets 116, Phoenix Suns 98: Rookie Emmanuel Mudiay scored a career-high 30 points, and the Nuggets (27-38) regrouped to beat the Suns for their third straight win.
 Rookie Devin Booker had a career-high 35 points, including 25 in the third quarter when Phoenix (17-48) climbed out of a 15-point hole before falling for the 17th time in last 20 decisions.