NBA: LA Lakers 92, Detroit 77

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., March 26 (UPI) -- Kobe Bryant scored 30 points Thursday and started a 20-0 run to end the third period, carrying the Los Angeles Lakers past Detroit 92-77.

The Lakers, owners of a 57-14 record, moved within a game of Cleveland for the best mark in the NBA.

Los Angeles won its fourth straight and its seventh out of eight. This was the third outing in a seven-game road trip.

Detroit took a 55-50 lead with 6:41 to play in the third quarter on a layup by Kwame Brown. The Pistons did not score again in the period while the Lakers were storming to a 70-55 advantage.

Bryant began the run with a layup and Sasha Vujacic finished it by hitting a 3-pointer with 34 seconds left in the quarter.

Derek Fisher added 15 points for the Lakers and Lamar Odom had 12.

Detroit, losers of six out of seven, got 25 points from Will Bynum.