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NBA: Los Angeles Lakers 111, Phoenix 99

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 18 (UPI) -- Kobe Bryant scored 36 points Friday for his highest-scoring game in a month, while lifting the Los Angeles Lakers to a 111-99 victory over Phoenix.

Bryant made 14-of-25 shots from the field in the Lakers' third straight win, a stretch that followed three losses in four contests.

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The 36 points were the most for Bryant since he reached the 40-point plateau in four consecutive outings in January. The last of those was a 42-point show against the Los Angeles Clippers Jan. 14.

Andrew Bynum added 16 points for the Lakers, who moved within two games of the Clippers for first place in the Pacific Division.

Marcin Gortat scored 21 to lead Phoenix, which lost its fourth straight.

The Suns have defeated the Lakers just once in their last eight trips to Los Angeles. The teams will play again Sunday in Phoenix.

The Lakers shot 53 percent and outrebounded the Suns by 16 to overcome 19 turnovers. Los Angeles led by as many as 18 points in the third quarter.

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