Los Angeles  - Kobe Bryant wasn't about to let the LA Lakers' slide go on.

Bryant poured in 40 points in a milestone effort, and the defending NBA Champions held off the visiting Detroit Pistons 106-93 on Tuesday night to snap a modest two-game skid.

Bryant's 100th career game of 40 or more points put him third on the NBA's all-time list behind icons Wilt Chamberlain (271) and Michael Jordan (173).

"It's a true honour," Bryant said. "A lot of work went into it, and when I look back on that, I (can't believe) I had 100 of those games. It's just a good feeling."

Lakers coach Phil Jackson tipped his hat to Bryant, who put on a vintage performance, despite being bothered by a groin strain.

"That's the kind of effort he gives," Jackson said. "It's a remarkable trait he has that separates him from the rest of the players."

Andrew Bynum had 17 points with 12 rebounds for the Lakers (8-3), who avoided their first three-game losing streak since Feb. 2008.

The Lakers suffered back-to-back blowouts at the hands of Denver (102-74) and Houston (101-91) in their previous two outings, before finding the winner's circle again despite surviving a late scare.

"Some of that is just talent and some of it is resiliency of the team that comes back," Jackson said. "They were embarrassed with the losses and they want to feel good about themselves, so they worked hard to change that."

Bryant scored 21 points by halftime, giving the Lakers a 57-42 cushion. The former league MVP added 14 more, including a spinning acrobatic layup with his back to the basket as the lead grew to 28 in the third period.

Ahead 88-63 entering the final frame, the Lakers defence watched the Pistons go on a 28-10 run to close within 98-91 with 1:55 remaining.

The Lakers answered, however. Shannon Brown converted all three free throws after drawing a foul from behind the arc. He followed with a high-flying breakaway dunk, before Bryant drained his three with 19 seconds left.

"Don't let this game fool us, it was an easy game, it was a bad game," the Lakers Bynum said. "We can still play better. In the fourth, we just kind of shut it down, because we were up by so many points."

Will Bynum scored 24 points, and Ben Gordon had 18 for Detroit (5- 6) losers of two in a row following a three-game run.

"We just weren't all on the same page defensively," Gordon said. "Our coverage defensively was late, especially helping on Kobe.

"Obviously he's a great player so we need to be paying attention to him at all times. He pretty much got any shot he wanted at any given time. He led them the entire game and set the tone." (dpa)