Los Angeles  - One night after carrying the Los Angeles Lakers to the finish line, Kobe Bryant saved them from a late collapse.

The reigning NBA Most Valuable Player scored 23 points, including the game-sealing three-pointer with 1:46 left, as the Lakers held off the San Antonio Spurs 102-95 on Thursday night in a showdown between Western Conference leaders.

With the victory, the league-best Lakers (52-13) won the Pacific Division title for the 20th time in franchise history, and became the first team in the Western Conference to clinch a playoff spot.

Los Angeles  - Bristol Palin, whose teenage pregnancy was an early problem in the vice-presidential campaign of her mother, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, has split up from her fiance, just two-and-a- half months after giving birth to their son.

People magazine reported Thursday that her split from fiance Levi Johnston happened several weeks ago and was mutual.

Los Angeles  - The Atlanta Hawks - the NBA's latest streak busters - struck again.

Joe Johnson scored 31 points with nine assists, Josh Smith had 22 points with 12 rebounds and the Hawks snapped the season-high 12-game winning streak of the Utah Jazz Wednesday night with a 100-93 home-court victory.

"This shows everybody in the world the Hawks are for real," Smith said. "They have to take the Hawks seriously. Utah is an outstanding team, and we were able to beat them."

Atlanta ended Cleveland's 11-game run on December 13, stopped Detroit's modest four-game string Saturday and severed New Orleans' seven-game success two days ago before halting Utah's fourth-longest streak in franchise history.

Los Angeles, Mar 12 : The upcoming hearing in Indian-born fashion designer Anand Jon case is expected to address alleged prosecutorial and juror misconduct.

According to statements made in court by Jon''s defense team, prosecutors defied a court order and intercepted a juror.

Jon's attorneys Leonard Levine and Ronald Richards have alleged that prosecutors stopped a juror who reportedly tried to meet with the Indian fashion designer's sister before a judgment was passed, reports PRWeb

Los Angeles  - R&B star Chris Brown withdrew Wednesday from the popular Kids' Choice Awards scheduled for March 28, after his double nomination sparked a storm of controversy.

Thousands of parents signed a petition calling on the Nickelodeon children's channel to toss him out after his alleged attack last month on pop star Rihanna for which he now faces assault charges.

Los Angeles  - The Utah Jazz's latest success has them blowing their own horn.

Mehmet Okur scored 24 points, Paul Millshap had 22 with nine rebounds and the streaking Jazz pulled away late Tuesday night to beat the Indiana Pacers 112-100 for their season-high 12th-consecutive victory.

"We have confidence that we're going to win every game we play, no matter what the scenario might be," Jazz forward Carlos Boozer said after finishing with 11 points and seven rebounds.

"At the end of the day, we have the pieces, the confidence and the belief in each other that we're going to win the game," he said.