Following Finals MVP Kobe Bryant – who averaged 32.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 7.4 assists that series – L.A. took the Magic down in five games for the first of back-to-back titles.
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Rather than utilizing Bryant as the franchise player, however, Los Angeles must turn to him as the facilitator-in more than one capacity. Favors scored 23 points and pulled down eight rebounds, and while he enjoyed playing in front of a hometown crowd, he was even happier to have Utah’s French center Rudy Gobert back from injury.
That’s promising, considering that the purple and gold have seen brighter days and are just trying to take this season one outing at a time.
Bryant went 6 for 19 from the field during a season-high 37 minutes, but finished with a season-high in assists.
The Los Angeles Lakers will be without Kobe Bryant on Monday night against the Suns, as the star will be out with back and knee injuries.
Not long after Bryant found Hibbert alone down low, he drilled a three-pointer with 3:44 to play, laughing and perhaps relieved as he punched his chest with the Lakers ahead, 85-74.
The Pistons will get another chance in the Staples Center tonight, this time against the L.A. Lakers, as they look to end their six game western conference road trip on a positive note.
Bryant said he has encouraged his young teammates to “stay with the process”.
In their first extended trip, the Lakers went 1-4, the lone victory coming a week earlier in Brooklyn.
Bryant admits that while he may be in the direction of retirement, he hasn’t made up his mind yet on what’s it going to be after this season.
Father time and age is starting to creep up on Kobe Bryant, despite his best efforts. No, Scott will cede his power, allowing Bryant to dictate the terms of how his farewell tour unfolds.
In the Mavericks’ first nine games this season, Zaza Pachulia registered five double-doubles. Scott should focus on the big picture now more than ever, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.
“I always worry about the next game the next game”, Scott said. This team is bad on both ends of the floor regardless of who is on the court. “You’ve got to fall down every now and then and you’ve got to get back up”.
He did it the wrong way for 40-something minutes, missing shots aplenty and tossing careless passes as fans bemoaned his poor choices and cheered his few positive plays.
Enjoy the game, especially considering the Lakers will be off until Friday following this one.
Pachulia notched his fifth double-double in nine games to help the Mavericks beat the Lakers 90-82 for Los Angeles’ fourth straight loss. And no, losing another game at home would not be disastrous by any stretch, regardless of what Bryant or anyone says.
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Lakers: They outrebounded Dallas 42-41. The Lakers prevailed despite committing 16 turnovers to 12 for the Pistons.
