After announcing Sunday that this season will be his last in the NBA, Kobe Bryant got a rapturous reception from Los Angeles Lakers fans at Staples Center that night, when his team hosted the Pacers.
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Bryant scored 20 to lead the Lakers, who at 2-15 are the NBA’s second-worst team.
Jerami Grant and Nerlens Noel added 14 points apiece while rookie Jahlil Okafor was one of three Philadelphia players to finish with 12 points. The 76ers face the New York Knicks on the road before hosting the Denver Nuggets and San Antonio Spurs.
We spoke to reps at the Wells Fargo center – where the Sixers ball – who tell us the fans have been clamoring for tix to the Sixers vs Lakers game ever since Kobe’s retirement announcement.
The Lakers (2-15) play their fourth game in five nights, visiting the Washington Wizards (7-8) on Wednesday night. Bryant began his farewell tour in Philadelphia, the city where his basketball journey began.
Bryant made three of his first four shots – all of them 3-pointers – but finished seven-of-26 from the floor.
The Cleveland Cavaliers suffered their first defeat at home this season as 35 points from John Wall lifted the Washington Wizards to a 97-85 victory. Bryant raised his right arm as the crowd gave one of several loud ovations. However, the Sixers closed out the first half well, trimming Los Angeles’ advantage to eight by halftime. Displaying vintage moves with pull-up and fadeaway jumpers before a crowd roaring his every move with approval, the 20-year veteran efficiently scored in the first half while leaving enough energy left for the fourth quarter. RoCo ended the game with 23 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists, while also leading the team in minutes and net rating at +18 for the night.
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Playing with the shot selection of a pickup artist, Bryant tried to deliver a special performance in his finale. RoCo seemed to rise to the occasion and relished defending Kobe, staying pumped up late into the game. “I would never whine, ‘Oh, you’re being too hard on me, please stop.’ That wouldn’t even sound like me”. Reserve guard Gary Neal remains plagued by a groin injury and power forward Nene has missed two games with a calf issue.
