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Final Score: LA Lakers 117 - Orlando 113

Orlando, FL (Sports Network) - Kobe Bryant scored 36 points, pulled down 10 rebounds and dished out six assists as Los Angeles edged Orlando, 117-113, at Amway Arena.

Pau Gasol added 30 points and nine boards for the Lakers, who are now 4-2 on a season-long, nine-game road swing. Derek Fisher chipped in with 14 points and seven assists.

"It is an amazing opportunity for me and I want to make the most out of it," Gasol said. "I always dreamed I would be in a situation like I am today. I am going to put my heart and mind 100 percent into it every time."

Dwight Howard had 19 points and 11 boards for the Southeast Division-leading Magic, who lost for just the third time in 11 games. Jameer Nelson finished with 17 points and nine assists, while Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu both netted 16 points.

"We had a very rough loss, an unbelievable basketball game," said Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy. "We get off to a great start and can't do anything for two quarters and it looks like we're out of it, and then we come back and take the lead and then it is a back and forth game down the stretch. I would like to be on the other side of it, but that was an unbelievable basketball game."

The Lakers led by just a point at the half but quickly carved out some breathing room in the third quarter. Los Angeles opened the frame with a 14-4 run, capped by an Lamar Odom three with 7:45 left in the quarter, to take a 78-67 lead.

The teams traded buckets for the rest of the stanza and the Lakers took a 98-87 cushion into the final frame.

Turkoglu got the Magic started in the fourth by burying a three and, a few minutes later, Keith Bogans finished an 11-2 burst by draining another three from the right corner to draw Orlando to within two points, 100-98, with 7:41 left in the game.

Forty seconds later, Fisher finally stopped the bleeding for Los Angeles by nailing a jumper from the top of the key but the Magic kept chipping away. Bogans finally deadlocked things at 106 by sticking a three from the left corner with 4:36 remaining.

Things remained tight as the game headed toward the stretch. With the Lakers trailing by a point, Bryant drew contact and went to the line. The All-Star calmly stroked two from the charity stripe to put the Lakers back on top, 113-112, with a minute to go.

Nelson had a good look from the top of the key at the other end but came up empty. Odom then flashed a great up-and-under move and forced Howard into a goaltending call with 30 seconds to go to give the Lakers a 115-112 edge.

The Magic went for the tie off an inbounds pass, but Lewis' three was tipped by Odom and grabbed by Bryant, who was immediately fouled.

The Lakers superstar then secured things by hitting two free throws with 14 seconds left.

"We've been looking at our team stats for about a month now because we've lost close games," said Lakers head coach Phil Jackson. "We've allowed Detroit to come back on this road trip, Atlanta to come from way down a couple nights ago and we haven't measured up. This is the first time I felt we've measured up and finally gave up a lead, got it back and won the game."

The Magic exploded out of the gates offensively and led 44-33 after the opening 12 minutes. The 44 points was a franchise record and Orlando shot 75 percent in the frame, including 8-of-11 from three-point range. Howard had 10 points and seven boards in the stanza while Maurice Evans, Turkoglu and Brian Cook all struck twice from beyond the arc.

The Lakers finally responded a bit on the defensive end in the second quarter and came all the way back to take a 64-63 edge at intermission. Bryant scored 22 points in the first half while Gasol added 17 on 6-of-8 shooting.

"They shot the ball extremely well and did a great job spreading the floor and knocked down shots," Bryant said. "We just had to stay with it. We had to contest shots and make it a little tougher for them and see if we could get back into the ball game."