In 14 games this season, Bryant is putting up career-worst shooting numbers on a last-place Lakers team that just lost to the formerly winless Philadelphia 76ers. That unwanted streak officially ended when time expired with a score of 103-91 in favor of Philadelphia.
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Marcin Gortat added 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Wizards, who have dropped five of six despite erasing an early 19-point deficit.
The Magic almost led the entire game, Minnesota scored the first basket of the game but was never able to regain the lead after that.
Bryant’s game started like many of his did when he was a 17-year-old at Lower Merion High School: With the 6-foot-6 guard outmatching opponents.
Brooklyn reserves Shane Larkin and Wayne Ellington each had 11 points and both made a basket in the brief flurry that helped the Nets win consecutive games for the first time this season.
“It was emotional”, Bryant said, via Press of Atlantic City.
It was a much tighter game in the second half, but once again the Wizards were doing the Lakers a huge favor by committing costly, live-ball giveaways, finishing the contest with 23 turnovers resulting into 33 points on the other side for L.A.
“I wasn’t expecting that type of reaction, ovation”, said Bryant, who is retiring at the end of this season.
Can you make the argument the Sixers are better than the 2-15 Lakers? Yes.
Wall at one point scored 12 straight fourth-quarter points for Washington, but on the next possession his errant pass was stolen by Lou Williams.
Then Bryant spoke in a freakish press conference where non-media members asked him questions after drinking beverages.
Bryant also indicated he is making the announcement so each moment can be savored. If you try to bump heads with him, it’s not going to work out well.
Midway through the first quarter, the Wizards honored Bryant with a message on the video board that read: “Thank you for an wonderful 20 years”.
“Initially, I thought our guys were a little bit star-struck”, Brown said.
Byron Scott has still seemed to lean more towards Bryant no matter how ugly his shooting is or continues to be from night to night.
The hero for Wittman was Wall, who became the first Wizards player to bag a 30-point game this season.
But eventually, Bryant’s night mimicked the reality of his final National Basketball Association season. G Nick Young did not play for the first time this season.
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“I believe in players who have a positive attitude to play”.
