Kobe Bryant came up with a season-high 42 points as Los Angeles Lakers saw off Chicago Bulls 96-87 at the United Center.

The win made it 12 from 13 matches for the Lakers and maintained their dominance of the Western Conference.

Four-time NBA champion Bryant, who was playing with a splint on his broken right index finger, scored 25 of his points in the first half with Pau Gasol the leading member of the supporting cast with 16. Luol Deng scored 21 for the Bulls.

Phoenix Suns stayed three games behind the Lakers in the Pacific Division thanks to a 116-104 success against San Antonio Spurs as Amar'e Stoudamire claimed 28 points and 14 rebounds. Tim Duncan did not deserve to be a loser with the Spurs after hitting 34 points and pulling down 14 rebounds.

Lebron James heaped more misery on New Jersey Nets as the Cleveland Cavaliers superstar claimed 23 points, six rebounds and seven assists in a 99-89 win. The result was the Nets' third defeat in a row to take them to an abysmal 2-23 for the season. The Cavs are right in the play-off picture just over a quarter of a way through the regular season and are 18-7 for the year.

Charlotte Bobcats secured their 10th win of the season thanks to a 94-87 comeback success at home to New York Knicks. Stephen Jackson weighed in with 24 points for the hosts.

Miami Heat snapped a two-game losing streak with a convincing 115-95 home win over Toronto Raptors as Michael Beasley equalled his career-high points total with 28, alongside 19 in three quarters from Dwyane Wade.

Argentinian forward or center Luis Scola scored 24 points in the Houston Rockets' 107-96 win at home to Detroit Pistons.

Portland Trail Blazers were 95-88 home victors over Sacramento Kings to go second in the North-West Division as Brandon Roy managed 25 points and dished out 10 assists.