Kobe Goes Off for 43 Lakers Beat Mavs

Lamar Odom has a pretty good theory on why Kobe Bryant shoots so much.

"It's hard not to shoot the ball when you can make shots from everywhere," Odom said.

Bryant gave several more eye-popping examples Monday night, making a spectacular layup in the third quarter, then swishing a jumper from about 30 feet while falling away with a hand in his face, the shot clock expiring and 34.9 seconds left to send the Los Angeles Lakers past the Dallas Mavericks 109-106.

The Lakers went from leading by 11 before halftime to trailing most of the second half until Bryant, who scored 43 points, tied it at 97 with a 3-pointer. Los Angeles was down by two when Bryant lost the ball at the top of the key, chased it down and heaved up the go-ahead 3 with defender Adrian Griffin coming at him.

"That's backyard stuff," Bryant said.

Bryant, Luke Walton and Smush Parker all made key plays the rest of the way, capping a 4-1 road trip for the Lakers and giving them five wins in six games. It also ended Dallas' five-game winning streak.