Bryant reigns, but Lakers lose

NEW YORK — The New York Knicks, aided by a late three-pointer from Langston Galloway, beat the Los Angeles Lakers 99-95 Sunday to lend a bittersweet flavor to Kobe Bryant’s likely last game at Madison Square Garden. The 37-year-old Bryant, in his 20th and probably final season with the Lakers, says he doesn’t want the 2015-16 campaign to turn into a farewell tour. But he may not be able to prevent it, if the adoring reception he received from New York basketball fans is any indication. “It felt amazing,” said Bryant, who drew a roar almost every time he touched the ball. Bryant had received a similar welcome across town in Brooklyn two nights earlier, but the cheers resonated even more in Madison Square Garden, the storied Manhattan venue where Bryant played his first NBA All-Star Game in 1998 and where he scored a stunning 61 points against the Knicks on February 2, 2009. He entered the game with the highest scoring average at the Garden of any active player at 30.7 points per game in 15 games. The five-time NBA champion led the Lakers with 18 points on six-of-18 shooting. Forward Carmelo Anthony led the Knicks with a game-high 24 points, 11 of them in the fourth quarter and also pulled down eight rebounds. Cavaliers 101, Pacers 97: Kevin Love scored 22 points and grabbed 19 rebounds as the Cleveland Cavaliers extended their winning streak to six games with a 101-97 victory against the Indiana Pacers. Cavs forward LeBron James had 29 points, six rebounds and four assists, while forward Tristan Thompson had 16 points and eight rebounds off the bench. Cleveland has not lost since their first game against Chicago. Forward Paul George scored 32 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for the Pacers, while Monta Ellis scored 25 points and Jordan Hill grabbed 11 rebounds. The Pacers had their own three-game winning streak snapped. Heat 96, Raptors 76: Hassan Whiteside outplayed Toronto’s Jonas Valanciunas in a battle of young centers with 20 points, 11 rebounds and six blocks to lead the Miami Heat to a 96-76 win over the Toronto Raptors. Valanciunas had 17 points and five rebounds, but he was held to just one point in the second half. The Heat also got contributions from forward Chris Bosh (23 points, eight rebounds) and shooting guard Dwyane Wade (12 points). Wade passed former Chicago Bulls forward Scottie Pippen for 51st place on the NBA career scoring list. Thunder 124, Suns 103: Kevin Durant scored 32 points on 12-of-19 shooting to lead Oklahoma City to a 124-103 victory over the Phoenix Suns that snapped the Thunder’s three-game losing streak. Pistons 120, Trail Blazers 103: Reggie Jackson scored 26 fourth-quarter points to lead a furious rally, and the Detroit Pistons stormed past the Portland Trail Blazers 120-103 at the Moda Center. — Agencies