[excerpt] For once, the third quarter was an ally instead of an adversary, a pleasant surprise for a team that again found its way a day after losing to San Antonio.
It wasn't easy — it rarely is — but the Lakers tucked away the Seattle SuperSonics, 106-93, Friday at KeyArena, sprung by a portion of the game that usually sinks them.
The 12 minutes after halftime have been the end of many Laker games, but the Lakers outscored the Sonics this time, 29-17, turning a four-point deficit into an 81-73 lead.
With it, the Lakers remained 1 1/2 games ahead of eighth-place Sacramento with eight games left in their regular season, six at Staples Center.
Kobe Bryant had 43 points, Kwame Brown had 12 points and 13 rebounds, and the Lakers avoided losing to the team with the second-worst record in the Western Conference.
Bryant edged closer to a one-game suspension by picking up his 14th technical foul of the season on a charging call with 5:26 left in the second quarter. Bryant, who put the ball into the chest of referee Greg Willard a little too hard for Willard's liking, will be automatically suspended by the league if he picks up a 16th technical foul.
A warning letter was already sent to the team after Bryant's 12th technical foul and he has accrued $20,500 in automatic fines for his technical fouls this season.
Bryant was suspended for two games earlier in the season after elbowing Memphis guard Mike Miller in the chin. He is hoping the league will rescind Friday's technical.
"They have to," he said. "That's ridiculous."
Coach Phil Jackson was less optimistic.
"I don't think they're in a rescinding mood," he said.
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