Kobe comes full circleLos Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant on Wednesday became the youngest player in NBA history to score his 30,000th career point.

He did it at 34 years, 104 days old, winning the age race over the other four players --Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone and Michael Jordan -- who reached that milestone. (All four of the others reached 30,000 points in fewer games, however.)

And Bryant did it in New Orleans against a Hornets franchise that drafted him 13th overall when it played in Charlotte in 1996.

"It's funny how sports always seems to kind of have that connectivity in some shape, form or fashion," Bryant told reporters afterward. "It just always seems to come full circle."

The road backDallas star Dirk Nowitzki began running on the court and did some shooting while traveling with the team in Los Angeles on Wednesday and is hopeful he'll be back playing games by Christmas.

He underwent arthroscopic knee surgery Oct. 19 and will have missed two games against the Timberwolves -- including Saturday's upcoming one at Target Center -- by then.

Baby stepsCleveland coach Byron Scott presented rookies Dion Waiters, Tyler Zeller and Kevin Jones with baby dolls and pink strollers before Wednesday's loss to Chicago.

Just part of being an NBA rookie, you know?

Waiters' doll is named Mary, Zeller's LaQuesha and Jones' Connie.

Jones didn't know if the dolls will travel all season, but he did know he needs to carry milk and Pampers in a pink diaper bag at all times.

"You get it trouble if you don't have it with you," he told reporters.