But the throwback performance was short-lived, and Bryant finished the game missing 18 of his final 22 attempts overall as the Sixers got their first win of the season after an 0-18 start.
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They also halted their USA professional sports record of 28 straight losses, dating back to March 27.
Sixers coach Brett Brown said it was “a true privilege” to be on hand for such an occasion, but he was focused more on his team and its victory.
Bryant scored his highest point total of the season so far, as he recorded 31 points in 36 minutes.
Bryant scored 20 points on 7-of-26 shooting and made four 3s. They have dropped seven in a row and 11 of 12. Clarkson scored 18 points on 6-of-14 shooting. The home fans gave him a standing ovation as he took to the court for the warm-up and again when his name was introduced.
Kobe wore it for the first 10 years of his career en-route to three NBA Championships and his legendary 81-point game in 2006.
“The intro, the end of the game, my high school coach being there, Dr. J being there…” Sixers legend Julius Erving was in the house as well. His $4.25 million annual salary, which is the 12th-highest in the league according to boydsbets.com, seems pricy for the coach of a team on pace for about 11 wins.
The Wizards, who never trailed, scored the first 10 points of the game and went on a 9-0 run to begin the second half in snapping a four-game losing streak.
Roy Hibbert got into an altercation with Isaiah Canaan, Jerami Grant, and JaKarr Sampson that surprisingly did not result in any ejections, despite Hibbert shoving a referee and Noel joining the scuffle from the bench, although all three of Hibbert, Sampson and Canaan did receive technical fouls for the scuffle. “This is insane, ‘” Bryant said, via Press of Atlantic City. “All of this stuff right now is still fluid.”… Brown said Okafor, who has apologized for his recent decisions, will likely soon be accompanied by team security on public outings. “But this has happened, so we’re all under the microscope”. That they truly do knock out good days, and we do believe that they will add up.
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“I didn’t hold up my end of the bargain”, James said of 2009, when the Cavs were upset by the Orlando Magic in the conference finals. He led all Lakers scorers in the game and shot 41.7% from the field, much better than his season average of 30.1%.
