LAKERS 120, WARRIORS 112: Kobe Bryant scored 23 of his 40 points in the second half as host Los Angeles beat Golden State for the 15th time in 16 meetings.

Pau Gasol had 18 of his 26 points in the second half and grabbed 11 rebounds as the Lakers fended off repeated rallies to beat the Warriors for the ninth consecutive time at Staples Center.

Point guard Ramon Sessions had his best game as a Laker, scoring 23 points and handing out nine assists as Los Angeles sent Golden State to its fifth consecutive defeat.

David Lee scored 27 points to lead six players in double figures for the Warriors, who battled back from a 15-point deficit with a stirring fourth-quarter rally, hitting 7 of 9 3-pointers.

Klay Thompson scored 18 points and Nate Robinson added 17, including four 3-pointers in the fourth as Golden State got within one point and trailed 115-112 with 81 seconds left.

Metta World Peace supplied the backbreaker, burying a 3-pointer with 1:08 remaining to help the Lakers move 1 1/2 games ahead of the Clippers atop the Pacific Division.

Bryant, who had his worst shooting performance as a professional with a 3-for-21 effort versus New Orleans on Saturday, was 16 of 28 from the floor.

Los Angeles, which lost All-Star center Andrew Bynum to a sprained left ankle in the first quarter, started to pull away after halftime. Bryant had 12 points in the third quarter as Los Angeles went ahead 89-76 entering the final 12 minutes.

The Warriors stormed back in the fourth behind Thompson and Robinson, who combined for 13 points in a 17-6 run to shave the deficit to 97-96 with seven minutes left.

A 9-0 spurt by the Lakers pushed the advantage back to double digits, only to see Robinson bury two more 3-pointers to pull the Warriors within 109-104 with 3:10 remaining.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Bynum was hurt with just under two minutes to play in the first quarter and did not return. X-rays were negative for what the Lakers termed a moderate ankle sprain. Troy Murphy had 11 rebounds in place of Bynum as the Lakers crushed Golden State on the backboards 50-29. ... Former Warriors coach Don Nelson will be part of the Basketball Hall of Fame induction class Monday. Nelson tabbed Chris Mullen as his choice for presenter for the ceremonies. ... Golden State PG Stephen Curry (ankle) sat out his 13th consecutive game.