Paul Millsap added 15 points and eight rebounds. Displaying classic moves with pull-up and fade-away jumpers, he scored efficiently in the first half as Los Angeles built up a 19-point lead. Hawks C Tiago Splitter (hip) missed his seventh straight game…. Dwyane said no, as it was a school night, and Kobe said, ‘you know what, bring them, I think it’s going to be my last time here.’ Dwyane brought the boys, they got a lifetime memory after the game taking pictures with Kobe, and the Wade family got a little sneak-preview of Kobe’s retirement announcement before anyone else. Lou Williams finished as the highest scorer in the game with 18 points off the Lakers’ bench.
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Bryant said that he didn’t want a farewell tour, but apparently he’s getting one. “I’m going to ride with whatever happens”. Walking down the tunnel and so forth. Many have hit him for his off-form and, apparently, for his decision to force the issue somewhat with the blessings of head coach Byron Scott.
He showed his age on the next sequence as Sefolosha blocked a shot out of bounds and was defending the arc when Bryant tossed up an air ball from the right side.
Outcome: The Cavaliers would have taken the NBA Finals that season, as the Lakers just didn’t have the fire power or talent to win four games.
Ultimately, for somebody who showcased such an extreme competitive nature throughout his career, openly accepting gifts from opponents before a game just doesn’t fit the mold.
I know this is a lot of points for the Hawks to be laying, but they just can’t afford to slip up and let the Lakers hang around. “We have to start putting together full games and then try to put multiple games together”, Hawks guard Kyle Korver told reporters.
Scott has shown a preference for two things late in games: Players who have been responsible for the comeback, and veterans.
“He was at peace when he told me”, Scott said.
Kobe Bryant’s retirement announcement effectively ended the Lakers’ 2015-16 season.
In response to reporters’ queries on how does he feel about the 2014 MVP’s recent comments that the media had treated him like “s*t”, the five-time National Basketball Association champion simply said that he “don’t budge on that stuff”, ESPN reports.
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The great majority of the fans at Philips Arena were not rooting for the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night. The Hawks had 24 assists on 37 made shots.
