LOS ANGELES -- An empty chair sat in front of Kobe Bryants locker Sunday night, and the Los Angeles Lakers realized they would have to fill it together. With their playoff hopes likely on the line against powerful San Antonio, the Lakers cobbled together a group effort that kept them in the hunt. Dwight Howard had 26 points and 17 rebounds, and the Lakers staged a dramatic rally in the fourth quarter to win their first game since losing Bryant for the season, beating the Spurs 91-86 Sunday night to stay in playoff position. Steve Blake scored 23 points for the Lakers (44-37), who lead Utah (42-38) by 1 1/2 games for the eighth post-season spot in the Western Conference after their seventh win in eight games -- even with Bryant watching from home following surgery on his torn Achilles tendon. The Lakers werent exactly relishing a future without their leading scorer, but they warmed to the challenge down the stretch. "It definitely gives us confidence that if we play as hard as we did tonight, we can beat anybody," said Pau Gasol, who had seven points and 16 rebounds. Bryant limped off the Staples Center floor Friday night, his 17th NBA season finished. Hell be largely immobile for the next few weeks, but he tweeted a plan to call in at halftime with adjustments for his teammates. Most of the Lakers said they didnt actually hear from Kobe, but they knew he was proud. "Whew!! Well done my dudes. Well done. UNO MAS (hash)playoffs," Bryant tweeted after the game. The Lakers all shared Bryants playmaking and defensive duties, working together imperfectly but effectively. Blake filled in for injured point guard Steve Nash and provided an unexpected scoring punch along with top reserve Antawn Jamison, who scored nine of his 15 points in the fourth quarter. "We knew everybody doubted us, but thats fine," Howard said. "Were going to push even harder. I told our guys before the game, Nobody believes we can win. Weve just got to go out there and play like it. Were all professional athletes. Weve all done some great things in our career, so why not just go out there and play hard, and let everything happen?" Los Angeles blew open a tied game with a 15-4 run midway through the fourth. Bryants starting replacement, Jodie Meeks, hit two 3-pointers during the rally, and Blake added three free throws in the final seconds while the Lakers fended off Tim Duncans late rally for the Spurs. The Lakers were clunky at times, with Gasol missing 12 of his first 13 shots and Howard struggling at the free throw line when San Antonio intentionally fouled him in the third quarter. They were still markedly effective, with a late-game smoothness they havent often shown this season. "Kobe is such a dominating player," Blake said. "Hes going to have the ball in his hands, and we always want to play through him. Tonight, I think everybody felt they could show what they can do." Los Angeles only needs one more win or one Utah loss to clinch its 16th playoff berth in Bryants career. The Jazz visit Minnesota on Monday before finishing the season against Memphis, while the Lakers have the next two days off before their finale at home against Houston. Duncan had 23 points and 10 rebounds for the Spurs, who have lost six straight road games. San Antonio (58-22) is likely to finish second in the West behind Oklahoma City (59-21), which holds the tiebreaker. Tony Parker scored just four points on 1-of-10 shooting while playing for just the fourth time in April, possibly slowed by his injured shin in the Spurs first game since waiving disenchanted forward Stephen Jackson. San Antonio is headed into another post-season as a top-two seed, but the Spurs have lost five of eight after failing to complete a season sweep of the Lakers. "We didnt match their energy at all," San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said. "I just thought we sort of floated through the game. Duncan was great, as usual. Timmy is a pro. ... Hes really the only guy on the team that played like somebody who wanted to win a championship." Duncan echoed Popovichs concerns about the Spurs recent play while also expressing surprise at Popovichs decision to disrupt the teams chemistry by dumping Jackson so close to the post-season. Kawhi Leonard, whose increased prominence led to Jacksons dissatisfaction and dismissal, managed just eight points in 33 minutes against the Lakers, making only one field goal. "Were two games away from the playoffs, and Manu (Ginobili) is still not here, Tony is still finding his rhythm," Duncan said. "Were not scoring at the rate we need to, but were a veteran team, and were confident we can get it together." The Spurs couldnt have anticipated that the Lakers biggest offensive surprise would be their backup point guard: Blake scored 14 points in the second quarter and hit four 3-pointers, fearlessly stepping up to create shots while Nash missed his seventh straight game with a right hamstring injury. Los Angeles is hoping Nash can return for the season finale. NOTES: Blake outscored Parker 18-2 in the first half. ... The Lakers signed G Andrew Goudelock in time for the second-year pro to be in uniform. Goudelock was Los Angeles second-round pick in 2011, and he showed enough scoring promise in 40 games of action last season to earn the nickname "Mini Mamba" from Lakers fans. He was waived in training camp last fall and spent this season with two NBA D-League teams. Goudelock would be eligible for the post-season if the Lakers make it. ... Charlize Theron, Edward James Olmos and Andy Garcia watched near courtside. cheap jerseys from china . 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If thats the case, he almost single-handedly gave the Senators the early series lead with an 8-4 rout of the Pittsburgh Penguins Saturday, scoring two goals and setting up two others as Ottawa ended a three-game losing skid.BOSTON -- Pittsburgh Penguins defenceman Brooks Orpik was expected to travel home with the team after being taken off the ice on a stretcher after being pulled down and punched by Bostons Shawn Thornton in the opening period of Saturdays 3-2 loss. The club said on its Twitter site that he "returned from the hospital and will be travelling with the team back to Pittsburgh." During the game, the Penguins said on their site that he was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital where "he is alert and conscious." It happened in a wild sequence of events. Bostons Brad Marchand was injured on the other end when Thornton came skating up quickly from centre ice and grabbed Orpik from behind, knocking him down backward before punching him. Thornton, dressed in a suit and speaking very quietly in front of his locker after the game, said he was "sorry" for what happened. "Its hard for me to talk about right now. I cant say Im sorry enough. Im sure Ill be criticized, but its true," he said. "I felt awful. It wasnt my intention. I know Brooksie. Ive gotten to know him the last seven years here. I skated with him during the lockout. I texted him a couple of times. Its not what I wanted to see or anyone to see." In TV replays, it appeared that Orpik didnt move after taking the punch. He also appeared hit his head on the ice when he fell. Thornton was given a match penalty. Thornton has a hearing with the NHL. "I hope hes doing all right," Thornton. "I heard hes conscious and talking and Im happy about that." Penguins coach Dan&nnbsp;Bylsma said Orpik has a concussion.dddddddddddd "I think he was out on the ice for a period of time," Bylsma said. "So I think that means hes got a concussion, for sure." Players immediately called for medical assistance for Orpik. He was surrounded by members of both teams medical staffs before he was taken off on a stretcher after about a 10-minute delay. Pittsburghs James Neal was assessed a kneeing penalty for his hit on Marchand. "I mean, what do you want me to say? That I was trying to hit him?" Neal said. "No, Im going by him. I dont get out of the way, like I said. I need to be more careful and I guess get my knee out of the way, but Im not trying to hit him in the head or injure him or anything like that." In the games opening minute, Orpik hit Bostons Loui Eriksson with his shoulder near the wingers head as he turned to move up the ice. "I think thats a big reason why," Penguins captain Sidney Crosby said when asked why Thornton may have reacted like he did. Eriksson was stunned and went to the bench dazed before heading to the dressing room with a trainer taking one arm to help his balance as he got up from the bench. Eriksson didnt return to the game. Bruins coach Claude Julien said Eriksson left with a concussion and will not travel to Toronto for Sundays game. A few seconds after Orpiks hit on Eriksson, Boston captain Zdeno Chara charged at the defenceman and drew a cross-checking penalty. Boston forward Milan Lucic also fought the Penguins Deryk Engelland midway into the period. cheap nfl jerseys ' ' '