But Davis had nine blocks and finished with 17 points. The more welcome goodbye gift came before the game in the form of a framed Lower Merion High School basketball jersey. The 76ers own the Lakers’ 2016 first round draft pick, but it is top three protected. He was traded to the Lakers weeks later for Vlade Divac. The Sixers are riding a one-game wining streak…at least until they play the Knicks on Wednesday. The three-time NBA MVP, who helped lead the franchise to the 1983 NBA title, died at age 60 on September 13 from cardiovascular disease.
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Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant may be in the twilight of his National Basketball Association career, but he is still the man according to two obsessed fans from Italy.
But his tribute was overshadowed by Bryant’s presence.
Bryant made it 3 for 3 and had the Philly crowd chanting “M-V-P!” as he turned back the clock to his championship form.
I guess I’m just happy that one of my pre-game predictions came true. He buried a step-back 3-pointer off the opening tip.
Bryant, whose past three seasons have all been cut short by injury, again pointed to his health after the game.
“I think he’ll have a lot more like this before it’s all said and done”, Scott said. “I wasn’t expecting that ovation”. “Deeply appreciative, beyond belief; I couldn’t have asked for anything better other than winning the game”, he said.
The Bryant-delights-cranky-hometown tale ended in the first quarter. This season has been the worst for Kobe Bryant, averaging a field goal percentage of 30.5 percent, and an even worse 20.2 percent from beyond the arc.
Los Angeles pulled within eight (96-88) with 4:05 remaining.
“You can’t script this stuff; I can’t, ” Bryant said after the game and called it the greatest moment he had ever experienced in that building. “We want a little bit more”.
The Wizards had lost four in a row, but never trailed at Quicken Loans Arena as Wall put up a season-high 35 points to go with 10 assists. However, he went cold as the game went on, and he kept firing despite the misses.
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A third-quarter tussle between Lakers center Roy Hibbert and the Sixers’ Isaiah Canaan, JaKarr Sampson and Jerami Grant seemed to wake up the Sixers. Hibbert, Grant and Sixers teammate JaKarr Sampson received technical fouls on the play.
