Kobe Bryant inspires weary Los Angeles Lakers over the Golden State Warriors: NBA Recap
Kobe Bryant posted 39 points, including 17 in the game changing third quarter, as the Los Angeles Lakers carved out a 97-90 win over the Golden State Warriors at the Staples Centre on Friday night.
Lakers, playing their 9th game in 13 days, the most by any NBA team, looked rusty in the first half and managed only 35 points as compared to 39 for the Warriors, who were playing without their star swingman Stephen
Curry and centre Alec Biedrins - both having right ankle injuries.
However after a stale first half, Kobe Bryant put on a show. Putting on an exhibition of pin point shooting, the Lakers talisman initiated a procession of layups and jumper to orchestrate a 14-2 run midway and then capped the frame
with a three pointer, which was part of an 8-0 run. With Bryant heating up, the Lakers outscored the Warriors 32-19 in the third quarter and started the fourth with a 67-58 lead.
The Lakers continued the domination in the fourth quarter and extended their lead to 83-70 with 6:02 left on the clock. The Warriors however were not done for the night yet and reeled off a 12-2 run to close the gap to 82-85 with
just 3:35 remaining.
Pau Gasol, who scored 17 points and 11 rebounds in the game, stepped up at that point and made two jump shots on the either side of a Matt Barnes drive to the rim, and within 53 seconds, the Lakers were again in the driving seat.
Keyed by Monta Ellis, the Warriors tried to rally back with an 8-3 foray for 90-94, but with only 26.6 seconds to go, desperation had the better of them.
Matt Barnes had a 16 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists night while Andrew Bynum recorded a game-high 16 boards and 9 points.
The Warriors had 5 players in the double figure, but none above 18.
Monta Ellis spent most of the game, attempting to guard Kobe, and ended up with 18 points and a game high 10 dimes. David Lee had 15 points and 11 rebounds and rookie Klay Thompson chipped in with 14 off the bench for the Warriors,
who have now lost seven straight away game against the Lakers and a total of 32 in the last 35.
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