Kobe Bryant played relentless defense, spurring his fellow Los Angeles Lakers to do the same. Dwight Howard dominated the paint, scoring easy baskets and blocking shots against the bewildered Bucks. Over the last two games, the Lakers have resembled the powerhouse everybody envisioned before their tumultuous season began. They're about to find out whether they got it together in time to compete with the Miami Heat. Howard had 31 points and 16 rebounds, Bryant also scored 31 points and the Lakers beat Milwaukee 104-88 Tuesday night for their second straight win after a six-game skid.
