Lakers 88, Bobcats 85: Kobe Bryant set season highs in minutes, field-goal attempts and points, capping his 21-point performance with two clutch free throws in the final minute as visiting Los Angeles rallied to snap a three-game skid.

Bryant played 32 minutes and shot 8-of-15 in his fourth game since returning from a torn Achilles, one night after getting limited to four points in a 25-point defeat at Oklahoma City. Bryant also had eight assists and seven rebounds - in addition to seven turnovers - while Pau Gasol and Jordan Hill added 15 points apiece for the Lakers.

One day after pushing league-leading Indiana to the brink in an eventual five-point loss, Charlotte was in position to win this one before missing its last eight field goals and allowing the final nine points of the game. Kemba Walker paced the Bobcats with 24 points on 10-of-13 shooting, while Al Jefferson contributed 14 points and nine rebounds.

Following a neck-and-neck first half that ended with Los Angeles ahead 44-43, Walker scored six points during an 8-0 run to open the third quarter. The Bobcats led until Robert Sacre's layup with 8:49 remaining in the fourth, but Walker made a 3-pointer, a layup and an 18-foot jumper to put Charlotte ahead 85-79 with just under three minutes remaining.

A 3-pointer by Nick Young and a layup by Bryant drew the Lakers within a point before Bryant was fouled on a jump shot and made both free throws for an 86-85 advantage with 37 seconds left. On the Bobcats' ensuing possession, Gerald Henderson missed a tough fadeaway and Jefferson misfired on a jump hook in the lane before Gasol's two free throws made it a three-point game and Charlotte came up empty on its final trip.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Lakers have won six straight matchups with the Bobcats. ... Bryant made a pair of 3-pointers in five attempts after going 0-for-5 from behind the arc over his first three games. ... Charlotte, which has lost three games in a row, finished 2-of-13 from 3-point range and only attempted eight free throws, making five.