An US auction house says it is confident of moving forward with the sale of Kobe Bryant's mementos which are the subject of a dispute between the National Basketball Association star and his mother. The New Jersey-based Goldin Auctions said it is hopeful the planned June auction will proceed after they paid a substantial fee to Pamela Bryant who assured them through "certificates of authenticity" she is the rightful owner of the Bryant collectibles.

TRENTON, N.J. - Kobe Bryant is in a court battle to try to keep his mother from auctioning off mementoes from his high school days in Pennsylvania and his early years with the Los Angeles Lakers. A New Jersey auction house filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Camden on Thursday for the right to sell the stuff after the NBA star's lawyers wrote the firm telling it to cancel a planned June auction. The disagreement is a high-value, high-profile version of a question many families face: Can Mom get rid of the stuff a grown child left at home?

San Antonio's star trio of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili combined for 53 points Sunday to lead the Spurs to a 91-79 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in their NBA playoff opener. Duncan posted the 139th playoff double-double of his career with 17 points and 10 rebounds. France's Parker added 18 points and eight assists and also made three steals, while Argentina's Ginobili, showing no sign of the hamstring strain that sidelined him late in the regular season, contributed 18 points off the bench.

U.S. Sports Desk, Apr 14 (EFE).- Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant sustained a torn Achilles tendon and underwent reconstructive surgery. The player tore the Achilles tendon in his left foot during the Los Angeles Lakers' 118-116 win over the Golden State Warriors on Friday. Team trainer Gary Vitti confirmed the bad news on Saturday after the team finished practice. The 35-year-old Bryant could be out between six and nine months, Vitti said.