ORLANDO, Fla. — Kobe Bryant did his job. The Orlando Magic did, too.

The Los Angeles star scored a season-high 41 points, but Magic center Dwight Howard made eight of 11 free throws in the fourth quarter, and Jameer Nelson had 27 points to lead Orlando to a 106-103 victory over the Lakers in a battle of division leaders last night.

"ESPN magazine did a story about how to defend LeBron James," Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy joked. "I don't think anybody is coming to me for that gig about defending Kobe. We better keep winning games, so I can stay employed."

Bryant missed a three at the buzzer that would have sent the game to overtime. He made 14 of 31 shots, and all 11 of his free throws.

"They had three guys over at me every time (in the second half)," Bryant said. "When I get going, they send everybody.

"I think it was really a good thing that I missed those two games. One, for me, giving rest for my body. And two, for my teammates that they can win without me, and do a lot of great things and trust each other."

Orlando survived despite early foul trouble for Howard. Nelson had 15 points in the third quarter to lead the Magic back from a nine-point halftime deficit.

Rashard Lewis added 22 points for Orlando, which has won six straight home games. Derek Fisher had 27 in support of Bryant.

In the last three days the Magic swept Western Conference contenders San Antonio and Los Angeles, giving them credibility as force for the NBA title.

"We believe we're contenders," Nelson said. "The naysayers say we're not. I think it's a statement game. It shows we're serious and we're contenders for the East."

The Lakers lost their last two games on last-minute shots.

"Those things are going to happen when you're on the road," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "Those shots are more friendly at home, I guess."

Howard, playing his second outing after missing a pair of games with a sore knee, had 18 points and 12 rebounds.

"He wanted the ball," Van Gundy said. "He really played well in the second half."

Orlando held a lead late in the fourth quarter, and foul-plagued Howard hit a pair of free throws with just over a minute left. Lewis hit one of two free throws in the final minute to put the Magic up to stay.

WARRIORS 110, BOBCATS 103

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Jamal Crawford scored 50 points, hitting 14 of 26 from the field and 17 of 18 from the free-throw line, as Golden State won without top scorers Corey Maggette (hamstring) and Stephen Jackson (hand). "I feel like I can pretty much get any shot I want," said Crawford, who continually beat Raja Bell and Raymond Felton off the dribble for layups or fouls. "I let people off the hook by settling for jump shots." Gerald Wallace led Charlotte with 26 points.

SUNS 108, NUGGETS 101

PHOENIX — Steve Nash scored eight straight points in the final three minutes, helping Phoenix win its eighth straight home game. Amare Stoudemire led the Suns with 27 points and 10 rebounds, and Nash finished with 16 points and 11 assists. Reserve JR Smith led Denver with 23 points.

BUCKS 119, CLIPPERS 85

MILWAUKEE — Richard Jefferson scored 22 points, and Luke Ridnour added 18 to help the Bucks beat the Clippers, who missed their first six shots and got just four points from leading scorer Zach Randolph (22.9 average). Al Thornton scored 20 for Los Angeles in its worst loss of the season.

BULLS 106, JAZZ 98

CHICAGO — Ben Gordon scored 26 points, and Derrick Rose had 10 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter as Chicago won its fifth straight home game to improve to 10-3 at the United Center. Mehmet Okur had 23 points and 13 rebounds for Utah, and Paul Millsap added 22 points and 10 rebounds.

SPURS 107, RAPTORS 97

SAN ANTONIO — Tony Parker had 24 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds, and San Antonio matched a franchise record with 16 3-pointers. Tim Duncan scored 19 points for the Spurs, who avoided losing three straight since they opened the season 0-3. Jermaine O'Neal led the Raptors with 24 points despite a sore left shoulder.

HEAT 106, NETS 103

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Dwyane Wade matched his season high with 43 points to lead Miami past New Jersey. Wade, who scored 12 of the Heat's final 14 points, put Miami ahead to stay with a reverse layup with 1:58 remaining for a 98-97 lead. Brook Lopez led the Nets with 22 points and 13 rebounds.

HORNETS 99, KINGS 90

NEW ORLEANS — Chris Paul had 34 points, nine assists and a season-high eight steals as New Orleans won for the 11th time in 13 games. Reserve James Posey added 19 points for the Hornets, who built a double-digit lead behind Paul's 16 third-quarter points and allowed Sacramento to get no closer that seven points the rest of the way. John Salmons led the Kings with 26 points.

PACERS 95, 76ERS 94

PHILADELPHIA — T.J. Ford hit a 15-foot jumper with 3.9 seconds left and finished with 25 points to lead short-handed Indiana, which dressed just nine players due to injury and illness. Andre Iguodala had 26 points, and Andre Miller added 14 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds for Philadelphia, which suffered its first loss in four games under new coach Tony DiLeo.

ROCKETS 109, TIMBERWOLVES 102

MINNEAPOLIS — Tracy McGrady scored 23 points and Houston made 12 3-pointers to hand Minnesota its 12th straight loss. Aaron Brooks added 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Rockets, who have won seven of their last nine. Al Jefferson had 34 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks for the Timberwolves.