Kobe Bryant powers Los Angeles Lakers to a 120-112 win over the Golden State Warriors – NBA Recap
Kobe Bryant might have had one of his worst ever nights in the last game he played, but up against the Golden State Warriors on Sunday night, the Black Mamba was at his vintage best.
Bryant scored 40 points on 16-for-28 from the floor; Pau Gasol had 26 points, 11 rebounds and six assists, while Ramon Session tallied 23 points and handed out 9 assists as the Los Angeles Lakers knocked over the Warriors 120-112
at the Staples Centre.
Golden State, paced by 27 points and 7 dishes from David Lee, gave the Lakers a run for their in the first half and were just trailing by three points. However, keyed by Bryant and Gasol, the Lakers pulled away with a 15-7 run
in the third quarter and the Warriors were left chasing the game after that.
Golden State, behind by 76-89 at the end of third quarter, did manage to rally in the fourth and closed in at 96-97 inside the first five minutes, but a three pointer from Sessions started a nine-nothing Lakers run and the lead
again grew into double figures, 106-96.
The Warriors made another come back though. With 3:44 left on the clock, Lee connected on a couple of freebies and with 1:59 remaining, he made a three point play to put visitors within three, 109-112. On the very next possession
Bryant knocked down a three, but it wasn’t till Metta World Peace drilled another three that the Lakers finally managed to sink the Warriors for the eighth consecutive time at home.
The win however was marred by a left ankle injury to Andrew Bynum. The centre landed awkwardly on the foot of Josh McRoberts and played for only 10:11 minutes. He underwent an X-ray after the game, which came negative.
Despite his absence though, the Lakers managed to out rebound the Warriors 50-29. 11 of those came from Troy Murphy.
The Warriors got 18 points from rookie Klay Thompson while Nate Robinson (16) and Richard Jefferson (17) combined for 33 points off the bench. Dorrell Wright also had 14 points on a 6-of-8 shooting from the floor.
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