The new king of basketball

"I congratulate Kobe on reaching this milestone," Jordan, the owner of the Charlotte Hornets, said in a statement released to The Associated Press. "He's obviously a great player, with a strong work ethic and has an equally strong passion for the game of basketball. I've enjoyed watching his game evolve over the years, and I look forward to seeing what he accomplishes next." The Los Angeles Lakers star passed Michael Jordan for third on the NBA's career scoring list Sunday night in a 100-94 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Bryant entered the game needing nine points to pass the icon with whom he is often compared. He got the mark with two free throws with 5:24 to play in the second quarter. Now only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone have scored more points than Bryant. Bryant didn't break a record Sunday night. Abdul-Jabbar is still more than 6,000 points ahead of him and in no danger of being caught. But moving past Jordan was cause for celebration (see full recap). Warriors top Pelicans in OT, run now 16 NEW ORLEANS -- Stephen Curry scored eight of his 34 points in overtime, and the Golden State Warriors won their 16th straight, 128-122 over the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday night. Klay Thompson added 29 points for the Warriors, whose franchise-long winning streak includes a club-record 10 straight road victories. Tyreke Evans scored 34 points for the Pelicans, but fouled out with three minutes left in overtime. Jrue Holiday had 30 points, nine assists and five steals for New Orleans, which was playing without Anthony Davis but still led 107-99 with 4:16 left in regulation (see full recap). Dunleavy has 19 in 3rd, Bulls rout Heat MIAMI -- Derrick Rose was fouled on a fast break, staggered off the court and kept going out a tunnel. He came back unhurt, but the Chicago Bulls hardly needed him. Mike Dunleavy led a balanced attack with 22 points and the Bulls overcame a sloppy start Sunday to beat the offensively challenged Miami Heat, 93-75. The Bulls had their lowest-scoring game since Nov. 21 and still won easily, building a 26-point lead in the second half. Dunleavy said the makeup of the team lends itself to scoring consistency (see full recap). Wizards start slow but beat reeling Jazz WASHINGTON -- For a while, the Washington Wizards seemed determined to make the game live down to its billing. That turnover-filled first half? It looked more like a bad practice. "One of the guys here in the locker room said, `Let's treat the first half like it was a shootaround, and in the second half let's play a basketball game,'" center Marcin Gortat said. That suggestion came from sage veteran Drew Gooden, and his words were well-heeded. The Wizards overcame the sluggish start Sunday night and put away the slumping Utah Jazz, 93-84. "We came out a little flat, on our heels a little bit," guard Bradley Beal said. "But I think we did a great job retaliating, The Los Angeles Lakers star passed Michael Jordan for third on the NBA's career scoring list Sunday night in a 100-94 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Bryant entered the game needing nine points to pass the icon with whom he is often compared. He got the mark with two free throws with 5:24 to play in the second quarter. Now only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone have scored more points than Bryant. "I congratulate Kobe on reaching this milestone," Jordan, the owner of the Charlotte Hornets, said in a statement released to The Associated Press. "He's obviously a great player, with a strong work ethic and has an equally strong passion for the game of basketball. I've enjoyed watching his game evolve over the years, and I look forward to seeing what he accomplishes next." Bryant didn't break a record Sunday night. Abdul-Jabbar is still more than 6,000 points ahead of him and in no danger of being caught. But moving past Jordan was cause for celebration (see full recap). Warriors top Pelicans in OT, run now 16 NEW ORLEANS -- Stephen Curry scored eight of his 34 points in overtime, and the Golden State Warriors won their 16th straight, 128-122 over the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday night. Klay Thompson added 29 points for the Warriors, whose franchise-long winning streak includes a club-record 10 straight road victories. Tyreke Evans scored 34 points for the Pelicans, but fouled out with three minutes left in overtime. Jrue Holiday had 30 points, nine assists and five steals for New Orleans, which was playing without Anthony Davis but still led 107-99 with 4:16 left in regulation (see full recap). Dunleavy has 19 in 3rd, Bulls rout Heat MIAMI -- Derrick Rose was fouled on a fast break, staggered off the court and kept going out a tunnel. He came back unhurt, but the Chicago Bulls hardly needed him. Mike Dunleavy led a balanced attack with 22 points and the Bulls overcame a sloppy start Sunday to beat the offensively challenged Miami Heat, 93-75. The Bulls had their lowest-scoring game since Nov. 21 and still won easily, building a 26-point lead in the second half. Dunleavy said the makeup of the team lends itself to scoring consistency (see full recap). Wizards start slow but beat reeling Jazz WASHINGTON -- For a while, the Washington Wizards seemed determined to make the game live down to its billing. That turnover-filled first half? It looked more like a bad practice. "One of the guys here in the locker room said, `Let's treat the first half like it was a shootaround, and in the second half let's play a basketball game,'" center Marcin Gortat said. That suggestion came from sage veteran Drew Gooden, and his words were well-heeded. The Wizards overcame the sluggish start Sunday night and put away the slumping Utah Jazz, 93-84. "We came out a little flat, on our heels a little bit," guard Bradley Beal said. "But I think we did a great job retaliating,