Warriors close but can't close deal against Lakers

Monta Ellis can make a valid argument as the best starter in the game, but Kobe Bryant is undoubtedly still the league's best closer.

Ellis had a 23-point first half - his league-leading 11th 20-plus-point half this season - but the Warriors' hot start was just enough to make Bryant break a sweat for the Lakers' 115-110 victory Wednesday night in front of the fourth sellout of the season at Oracle Arena.

After a jumper by Stephen Curry closed the Warriors' deficit to 92-91 with 4:12 remaining, Bryant scored seven straight Lakers points and found Ron Artest for a corner three that put the Lakers ahead 102-97 with 1:55 left.

Bryant scored 17 points in the final 5 1/2 minutes. He coolly hit a 27-footer with 43.9 seconds on the clock to give the Lakers a 105-99 lead and ruin what might have been Ellis' best game of the season.

"Tonight was a special night for" Ellis, Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "I think he really stepped his challenge up and he played Kobe well until the end."

After needing an intravenous injection on Monday and missing practice Tuesday with flu-like symptoms, Ellis was 8-for-12 shooting in the first half. He was a consistent pest to Bryant on defense, making the All-Star guard shoot 4-for-7 with five turnovers. Ellis finished with 38 points and three assists. Bryant totaled 39 points, six rebounds and four assists.

Warriors coach Keith Smart asked: "Where would we be without" Ellis?

The Lakers beat the Warriors for the 12th consecutive time, dating back to March 23, 2008, and have won 26 of the past 29 meetings. But a moral victory against the two-time defending champs wasn't what the Warriors were seeking to begin a five-game homestand.

"If I wake up in the morning and God gives me the strength to come out and play, I'm going to do that," Ellis said. "This is a big stretch for us at home right here, and I wanted to show my team and the fans that I'm going to do whatever it takes to get over the hump."

After losing to the Clippers on Sunday, the Warriors said they needed to steal the Lakers' game to start 13 of 14 games at Oracle Arena in what is the put-up-or-shut-up stretch of the season.

"We've shown that we can compete with some of the best teams in the league," Smart said. "We might be a ways from closing that door, but we always have a chance to win."

Dorell Wright had 27 points, seven rebounds and four assists for the Warriors (15-23), Curry had 15 points and 10 assists, and David Lee added 14 points, seven rebounds and six assists.

Bryant finished what the Lakers' big men started. Like most teams, the Warriors had no answer for the Lakers' lanky frontcourt. Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom combined for 55 points and 34 rebounds.

Smart used an eight-man rotation, electing to use center Dan Gadzuric over rookie Ekpe Udoh or Lou Amundson. Smart said he thought Gadzuric's physical play would bode well against the Lakers, but Gadzuric managed only three points and four rebounds in 17 minutes.

"They had an advantage size-wise and strength-wise at every position, but we hung with them blow for blow," Lee said.

With Bryant resting, Odom scored 10 consecutive Lakers points to put them ahead 87-86. That was more than enough margin for error when Bryant returned with 6:37 left and closed the door.

E-mail Rusty Simmons at rsimmons@sfchronicle.com.

This article appeared on page B - 1 of the San Francisco Chronicle