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Kemba Walker, Charlotte Hornets outshine Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers

“When you love the game you become obsessive about it”, Bryant said Monday after the Lakers lost to Charlotte 108-98.

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The Met Office has issued an amber “be prepared” warning of persistent rain covering the areas for much of Wednesday. Storm Frank has been brewing across the Atlantic and is set to hit the country overnight on Tuesday (December 29).

From one great to another, Michael Jordan made sure to congratulate the retiring Kobe Bryant during the Laker star’s final trip to Charlotte.


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Despite its recent struggles, Los Angeles has held the upper hand in recent clashes with Boston, going 7-2 SU and 6-3 ATS in its last nine games against the Celtics, who are a middling 3-3 SU and 3-2-1 ATS in their last six games on home court according to the OddsShark NBA Database. The two combined for 22 points in the quarter, which proved to be key for Los Angeles in its win.


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Over the Los Angeles Clippers’ last three games, they have been without their primary backup point guard Austin Rivers.

Hornets’ Nic Batum contributed 15 points and a season tying 11 assists while Jeremy Lin pitched in 13 points and Cody Zeller had 16 points and 8 rebounds.

Walker scored 18 out of his team’s 23 points in the fourth period as he took over what was a tight game through the first three quarters.

The eventual Finals MVP also tallied seven rebounds, four assists and three blocks, while hitting a clutch bucket in the final two minutes. They shot 48.3 percent from the field and committed just 11 turnovers.

It’s been a tougher road for the Lakers, whose meeting with the Celtics marks Bryant’s final game in Boston ahead of his retirement from the National Basketball Association at the end of this season. When I look back at the first time we actually played each other, and the competitive drive that I saw within your eyes – even though the knowledge wasn’t quite there yet – it’s very invigorating.

“You have been a big help to the game of basketball”, Jordan said. “I thought we played with a lot of passion and a lot of emotion”. “I’ve always been like a big brother and you like a little brother”. And I’m very happy to leave you this message to say how much we are very proud of what you’ve accomplished over the years.

The Hornets drafted Bryant out of high school with the 13th overall pick in 1996, but traded him to the Lakers in a deal that brought Vlade Divac to Charlotte. He was pulled with just under five minutes to play with the Lakers within four.

Bryant left the game a few seconds later with the sold-out crowd chanting “Kobe!”

That partly may have fueled Bryant’s performances through 29 career regular-season games against the Celtics, in which he averaged 25.1 points and posted at least 40 points in five of those contests. The Los Angeles Lakers are shooting 31.7 percent from beyond the arc and 75.6 percent from the free throw line.

Lakers: Were outrebounded 46-41…. He shot 5-for-20 from the field and 3-for-12 from 3-point range.

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Mike Conley scored 19 points, Jeff Green added 17 and the Grizzlies easily defeated the Lakers 112-96 on Sunday.

Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant have bonded over the years