“I knew he was going to probably struggle a little bit because of the way they play”, Lakers coach Byron Scott said. In the short term, we probably just witnessed the Nuggets’ peak, and we’re not even half way through the season.
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Though the Lakers said doctors have given Bryant medical clearance to play, Scott reported that head athletic trainer Gary Vitti has suggested Bryant should sit out one or two weeks. With 3:30 remaining in the third quarter, the Warriors led the Lakers 73-70.
I’ve always had a fondness for him as a player.
Cole Aldrich, who started in place of Jordan, scored 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds, while Chris Paul had 15 points, 12 assists and six rebounds, sparking the Clippers to their 10th consecutive victory. While the Warriors rarely resort to their special lineup that did so well in the Finals (unless they really have to), Green is the team’s best passer, probably their best rebounder and most versatile defender next to Andre Iguodala. Curry to Kobe: “I’ve got to chase you”.
“He looked good physically, which is what we were interested in seeing”, Walton said.
Stephen Curry (26 points) made three three-pointers in the third quarter and the end was near.
“Twenty years later, I was right, the Lakers were right… and I see this resume that’s nearly second to none”, West said.
And when the chatting was over, and Kobe headed for the tunnel one last time, the ovation returned.
I would take the Lakers with the points if the circumstances were different, but I don’t want to back against a Warriors team playing at home and coming off a surprise loss.
“He was a handful, man, he was a handful”, Bryant said. Malone has complained about effort, amongst other things, but a win like this one will certainly give a young team some confidence, and with confidence comes effort.
Bryant scored 6 of his 8 points in the first half and finished among four Lakers to lead the team in assists with three. It’s the Warriors’ longest home unbeaten streak in the rivalry since taking seven in a row from 1993-95.
Bryant’s eight points were far less than the 27.1 average he accumulated in his first 32 visits to the San Francisco Bay Area.
One final All-Star appearance, whether it be a brief run or an all-time performance, is a fitting final bow for one of the greatest in the history of the game itself and the league overall.
The Warriors fell 112-110 to the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center, bringing the defending champions’ record to 36-3. He was also presented with a specially designed five-liter bottle from Amuse Bouche winery in Napa. Bryant signed a pair of shoes for Warriors forward Draymond Green with the message, “Make history”. Forward Brandon Bass (right foot soreness), listed as doubtful, was declared out prior to tipoff.
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Bryant left a lasting impression on Walton with his grit to play no matter what body part was hurting or how exhausted he might be, and they won two National Basketball Association championships during 8 1/2 seasons together with the Lakers. Shaun Livingston and Leandro Barbosa chopped up the Lakers’ loose defense, while Harrison Barnes made the most out of a variety of mismatches. Green may also rest on Thursday but that plan has not yet been revealed.
