NBA: LA Lakers topple the Detroit Pistons

The LA Lakers snapped their two-game losing streak with a 114-99 win over the Detroit Pistons.

Jordan Hill finished with a career-high 24 points and 17 rebounds as the Lakers rallied from 71-69 down to power to victory.

Brandon Jennings top scored for the Pistons with 23 points, with Detroit slumping to a fifth defeat in six matches.

The struggling Lakers had dropped two straight and four of their last five going into the contest, but perhaps the return of Kobe Bryant in practice for the first time since he tore his left Achilles tendon in April, gave the team a needed boost.

After Bryant took part in some shooting drills, Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni found himself fielding questions as to Bryant’s expected return, but was sure to dodge the pivotal question, going with the “it’s was too soon to say” line.

“I know why there’s anticipation, but it’s too early,” said D’Antoni.

Bryant, who recently said he was stepping up his fitness training, discussed his progress with sharpening his on-court skills in an interview for NBA TV.

“The fadeaway still works, the ball-handling and being able to post,” he said.

“Those are things that I can do right now.”

Damian Lillard led the Portland Trail Blazers to a 118-110 overtime victory against the Toronto Raptors.

Lillard scored seven of his 25 points in overtime as the Trail Blazers moved to 8-2 for the season – and to the top of the Northwest Division – while LaMarcus Aldridge also weighed in with 25 points.

The Raptors had trailed by 16 points in the fourth quarter but they hit back brilliantly to force overtime, with Rudy Gay tying the scores while Nicolas Batum weighing in with 24 points.

The Memphis Grizzlies registered a fifth successive win over the Sacramento Kings.

Zach Randolph scored 22 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, while Marc Gasol and Mike Conley each chipped in with 19 points apiece.