Lakers 111, Trail Blazers 107: Kobe Bryant scored 40 points on 15-of-23 shooting and Dwight Howard had 19 points and 16 rebounds as host Los Angeles handed Portland its season-worst seventh straight loss.

Steve Nash suffered through a 2-of-11 shooting night but it was his short jumper that snapped a tie at 105 with 1:44 left and put the Lakers ahead to stay. Antawn Jamison added 16 points for Los Angeles, which is two games below .500 with 26 games remaining.

J.J. Hickson had 22 points and 11 rebounds, Nicolas Batum scored 22 points and Damian Lillard had 19 points and seven assists for the Trail Blazers.

After Nash hit the tiebreaking basket, Bryant hit two free throws with 12.9 seconds remaining to make it a four-point game. Batum drained a jumper with his left toe on the 3-point line to get Portland back within two points with 10.7 seconds to go before Bryant hit two more free throws with 8.9 seconds left to seal it.

Hickson had 16 first-half points as Portland led 55-53 at the break. Bryant scored 18 points in the third quarter but the Lakers still trailed by two entering the final stanza.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Los Angeles has won six straight and 11 of its last 12 home games against Portland. … LaMarcus Aldridge and Wesley Matthews added 15 points apiece for the Trail Blazers. … The 40-point outing was Bryant’s fifth of the season and 117th of his career.