Sports / basketball Kobe, Lakers Hang On to Top Mavs 102-100 Heat beat Bucks, end 0-for-March skid, Bulls bests Nets By Doug Sweeney, Newser Staff Posted Mar 18, 2008 11:31 PM CDT Copied Dallas Mavericks forward Devean George (40) defends against a drive by Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Tuesday, March 18, 2008. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) The Los Angeles Lakers nearly blew a 25-point third quarter lead against the Dallas Mavericks but escaped with a 102-100 win after Dirk Nowitzki’s 3-point miss at the buzzer. Despite the miss the German scored 35 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked a season-high five shots. Kobe Bryant had 29 points to lead the Lakers, according to the Associated Press. Elsewhere in the Association: The Miami Heat took down the Milwaukee Bucks 112-106 to earn their first victory in March. Jason Williams had 21 points and 10 assists in the win; Ricky Davis also had 10 dimes for Miami. Luol Deng scored 20 points to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 112-96 victory over the New Jersey Nets. Ben Gordon added 17 points in the win. (More basketball stories.) Report an error