Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant acknowledges Milwaukee Bucks fans as he is introduced during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Feb. 22, 2016, in Milwaukee.
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Antetokounmpo 12-17 3-6 27, Parker 7-15 1-2 15, Plumlee 7-7 0-4 14, Mayo 4-7 0-0 12, Middleton 5-15 7-8 18, Monroe 5-9 2-2 12, Carter-Williams 4-12 2-3 10, Vaughn 0-3 0-0 0, Novak 0-1 0-0 0, O’Bryant 0-0 0-0 0. The Lakers routed the Bucks in their first meeting this season, a 113-95 decision December 15 in Los Angeles, but Milwaukee now has won seven of the past 10 meetings between the two teams, including five in a row at the Bradley Center.
A night after losing in Chicago, the Lakers looked exhausted in the third quarter compared to the Bucks before rallying in the fourth to make it respectable.
Playing in front of a packed house for Bryant’s last game in Milwaukee, Antetokounmpo recorded his first career triple-double (27 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists, four blocks, three steals) as the Bucks obliterated the hapless Lakers in transition and cruised to a more-comfortable-than-the-score-implies 108-101 win. Forward Nick Young scored 16 of his 19 points in the second half to lead the Lakers. Bryant’s 15-point performance on 3-of-12 shooting coincided with continued pain in his dislocated middle finger in his right hand.
“Tonight they did what they normally do”, Lakers coach Byron Scott said.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Jabari Parker (12) reacts during the second half against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena.
“I couldn’t have achieved what I achieved without him being in my corner”, Bryant said of Jordan.
“There’s an unbelievable history that they have there, a special significance to me personally”, Bryant said. They trailed by as many as 28 points, and the starters did not play in the fourth quarter.
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Even though Kobe Bryant has spent more than half his career playing without Shaquille O’Neal by his side, the two players will always be connected. “You’ve got to earn it. Those guys understand that now”. Julius Randle had a very quiet night, scoring just five points with seven rebounds. “And I feel like I’m going to keep the confidence and say that I’m one of the best players, so I feel like I just want to keep proving that I deserve to start, deserve to be out there and play crunch-time minutes”. He will receive treatment and try to go through shoot around Wednesday in Memphis.
