Kobe Bryant scored 30 points to lead the Lakers to a 92-77 win over the Detroit Pistons on Thursday night, moving them within a game of the league-leading Cavs.

"One of our goals is to have the best record before the playoffs start to have home-court advantage," Odom said.

The Lakers won their fourth straight game and fifth in a row on the road, giving them an NBA-best 26 victories away from home this season.

"We're playing well right now," Bryant said.

For a change, Bryant had a reason to smile when he left The Palace.

The Lakers had lost nine straight, including three in the 2004 NBA Finals, on Detroit's home court since winning there Jan. 8, 2002.

"It feels good to finally walk out of here with a win," Bryant said.

Los Angeles snapped its losing skid on the road against the Pistons by scoring the last 20 points of the third quarter.

"We just got our rhythm," Bryant said.

The Pistons, meanwhile, are still searching for the success they've had much of this decade. They've lost three straight games and seven of nine to fall into a seventh-place tie with Chicago in the Eastern Conference.

Detroit is 18-19 at home and three games under .500 overall.

"They've had some trouble," Byrant said. "But when the playoffs come around, I don't think anybody wants to play this team."

The Pistons were again without Allen Iverson (back), Richard Hamilton (groin) and Rasheed Wallace (calf) against the Lakers.

"They were short-handed," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "We should've won."

Hamilton is expected back Saturday at Washington, where Wallace might also return, and the team hopes Iverson will be able to play next week.

"It's a psychological lift knowing they're going to return soon," coach Michael Curry said.

Detroit desperately needs the trio to salvage some pride in a season that has steadily unraveled since trading Chauncey Billups to Denver for Iverson in November.

Pistons reserve Will Bynum had career highs with 25 points and 11 assists and helped his banged-up team outscore the Lakers 30-14 in the second quarter.

The Pistons built a 10-point lead early in the second half and were ahead by five midway through the third quarter when Bryant made a layup and Trevor Ariza had consecutive putback dunks to spark the 20-0 run.

"We took Will Bynum out of the game and nobody else could do anything," Detroit's Tayshaun Prince said. "He's the reason we had the lead at the half and the reason we made that comeback in the second quarter.

"Once he came out - end of the ballgame."

Derek Fisher added 15 points for the Lakers, and Odom and Pau Gasol each had 12.

"Those guys were playing well as a team and when they do that it's a lot easier for Kobe to pick his spots," Prince said.

Bulls 106, Heat 87

At Chicago, John Salmons scored 27 points, and Ben Gordon added 18 to help the Bulls win for the sixth time in seven games.

The Bulls took control in the third quarter, outscoring the Heat 32-14. Salmons scored 13 points in the period as Chicago turned a two-point deficit into a 79-63 lead and sent the Heat to their fifth loss in seven games.

NBA scoring leader Dwyane Wade had 31 points for Miami.

Trail Blazers 129, Suns 109

At Portland, Ore., LaMarcus Aldridge scored a season-high 29 points and added 12 rebounds to help the Trail Blazers end Phoenix's winning streak at six.

Brandon Roy added 26 points and nine rebounds for Portland. Shaquille O'Neal led the Suns with 20 points and seven rebounds. Phoenix, making a late push for the playoffs, is ninth in the Western Conference - 3 1/2 games behind Dallas.