It wasn’t immediately clear how Love was injured or the severity of the injury.
Advertisement
Russell went on to finish with 15 points after returning to the game, but it was not enough as the struggling Lakers went down 120-111 to the high-flying Cleveland outfit.
NOTES: Lakers F Kobe Bryant on the advice he would give Cavs F LeBron James: “Enjoy it. Enjoy the process of it all now, enjoy it when it comes.”…
Bryant, 37, said he talked on the phone with James “more than people know”, but passed off the non-rivalry as a generational thing, even though only six years separated them. “Sometimes what is known doesn’t need to be said”.
Now Kobe will face Lebron for the first time in a long time as he missed the last few meetings due to his rotator cuff injury.
This game bore more significance for the symbolism surrounding Bryant’s last appearance in Cleveland. Bryant reiterated Wednesday he doesn’t consider James a rival because the two stars weren’t really in the same generation, but Bryant seems to be more receptive than he was earlier in his career when he appeared chilly on the court toward James.
Lou Williams scored 28 points and guard Jordan Clarkson had 22 for the Lakers. “It was in the amusing bone in your elbow, fire running down my arm. It’s just a stinger”.
Midway through the first quarter of the win over the Celtics, which concluded a four-game series sweep of the Celtics, Love was hustling after a loose ball when he got tangled up with Boston reserve Kelly Olynyk just outside of the paint.
Despite letting off the gas on a number of occasions, the Cavs still led 64-47 at intermission, a tribute to just how terrible the Lakers are. The Lakers pulled within eight in the final minutes, but a 3-pointer from J.R. Smith with 3:19 left put the game away. Bryant watched the tribute on the arena’s huge scoreboard before hearing his name and taking the floor with his teammates.
This season being Kobe Bryant’s last, he’s started a new tradition of giving, or exchanging, sneakers with some of his fiercest opponents.
Bryant finished with 17 points and six rebounds while shooting just five of 16 for the Lakers.
“I never looked to see what he was doing”, Bryant said. “It wouldn’t be surprising if in the next couple days it loosens up on me and feels good”. “Thirteenth?! He’s a vet – a true, true vet. To me it still seems like he’s just gotten to the league”.
This isn’t the first time Bryant has gifted James a pair of shoes, however. It was then that Bryant dropped some knowledge on James. Kobe has already announced that he will not compete in the 2016 Olympics because he felt his time has passed but that may influence other players’ decisions including James’.
Bryant said there have great moments and some hard ones to handle during his league-wide farewell tour. “I don’t care what’s being said”, Lue told Cleveland.com. But much to the chagrin of the NBA’s fan base and Nike executives, Bryant and James did not square off directly in the Finals. James already suggested this season that Irving will win an MVP someday. However, with a little rest over the All-Star Break, Love expects to be ready to go, and that will be a welcomed sight for the Cavaliers.
“I feel awful, my ankles, knees, everything”, Bryant said.
Windhorst is probably right, but depending on how the season ends, prepare yourself for the Love rumors to heat up come summer time.
Advertisement
“My ankles, knees, everything [hurts]. I’m looking forward to having a complete week where I do nothing”. Between now and mid-April, when he laces them up for the final time in what’s sure to be a surreal night at Staples Center, he is opening himself up. “Well, it’s like a big brother, or a grandfather”, Bryant cracked. “Those are one of the things I always admired about him”. The Lakers have lost eight of nine on the road.
