Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Even with Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol back in the lineup, the Los Angeles Lakers failed to hold an 18-point lead.

John Wall had 24 points and a career-high 16 assists, and the Washington Wizards beat the Lakers, 103-100, Friday night.

Trevor Ariza netted 14 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter for the Wizards, who were down 59-41 a minute into the third quarter.

Bryant missed the previous two games with an ankle sprain and Gasol had sat out the last 20 with a foot problem. Bryant had 21 points and 11 assists, but his potential tying 3-point shot at the buzzer hit off the rim. Gasol had just four points and eight rebounds.

Dwight Howard totaled 20 points and 15 rebounds for the Lakers, who have lost back-to-back contests. They're 1 1/2 games ahead of Utah for the eighth seed in the Western Conference.

The Wizards, winners in five of their last six games, saw their lead trimmed to 101-000 following a Bryant 3-pointer with 2.3 seconds left. The Wizards were then nearly given a 5-second call for not getting the ball inbounds, but were awarded a timeout.

Wall then hit two from the charity stripe with 1.5 seconds left.

Howard delivered a perfect baseball pass to Bryant, but his 3-point shot from the right wing was off the mark.

The Sports Network