James, Bryant share court; No mercy for Kobe in Cleveland farewell
Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant, back, hugs Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James as Bryant leaves the game in the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016, in Cleveland. The Cavaliers won 120-111. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
CLEVELAND — With 20,000 fans roaring, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James hugged and seemed to be in a world of their own.
One on one.
“It was just a lot of mutual respect,” James said of the embrace. “Sometimes what is known doesn’t need to be said.”
The two superstars shared the same floor in Cleveland for the final time on Wednesday night as the Cavaliers, despite playing the second half without Kevin Love, downed the Los Angeles Lakers 120-111 in their last game before the All-Star break.
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Kyrie Irving scored a season-high 35 points and James added 29 for the Cavs, who feared Love had re-injured his surgically repaired left shoulder in the first half. However, following the game Love said he only has a “stinger” and doesn’t expect to miss any time.
Bryant finished with 17 points in his last performance in Cleveland, where many fans cheered his every move and fans serenaded him with “Ko-be” chants throughout the night.
For James, there has been no player of his era quite like Bryant.
READ: Kobe Bryant looks back 10 years after his 81-point game
“His competitive nature,” James said when asked what he admires most about Bryant. “A lot of guys might be bigger, taller or jump higher, but it’s something that’s in you that gets you to that level.”
Lou Williams scored 28 to lead the Lakers, who have dropped 13 of 15.
The Cavs caught a major scare late in the second quarter when Love quickly left the floor after getting his arm caught under Bryant’s while working in the post.
“At the time I really didn’t know what it was,” Love said. “It’s like when you get hit in the funny bone in your elbow, it’s just shooting pain. It felt like fire was running down my arm. It’s just a stinger.”
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It’s the same shoulder Love had dislocated in the first round of last season’s playoffs when Boston center Kelly Olynyk yanked it from the socket while battling for a loose ball. Losing Love disrupted the Cavs’ title chase and for a moment Wednesday night, it appeared Cleveland would be without him again.
Cleveland carried a 19-point lead into the fourth quarter, but struggled to put away the lowly Lakers.
Bryant converted a 4-point play and made three free throws to get Los Angeles within 108-100, but J.R. Smith and James made 3-pointers in the final three minutes.
The Cavs tastefully saluted Bryant during pregame introductions with a video presentation of some of his best moments. Bryant watched the tribute on the arena’s gigantic scoreboard before hearing his name and taking the floor with his teammates. He patted his chest in appreciation as Cleveland’s crowd — dotted with fans wearing Bryant’s purple-and-gold No. 24 jersey — chanted his name.
“It felt great to play here so many years and get that type of reaction,” Bryant said of the crowd’s salute. “It was really special.”
Before the opening tip, Bryant hugged Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue, who won two NBA titles as his teammate in Los Angeles.
Bryant and James started out guarding each other, a matchup NBA fans never got to witness in the Finals and will only see one more time when the Cavs visit the Lakers on March 10.
Before the game, Bryant said he’s never viewed James as a rival.
“I never looked to see what he was doing,” Bryant said. “I just felt like we were a completely different generation. I just missed that thing completely. Not like a Magic-Bird sort of thing. From the time he came into the league it was more helping him, giving him direction, advice.”
James said he’s sorry he never developed a rivalry with Bryant.
“We never had the matchup that everybody wanted, that we wanted,” he said.
Saying Goodbye
Bryant said there have great moments and some hard ones to handle during his league-wide farewell tour.
“That we stink, that’s tough,” he said. “But being able to say, ‘thank you’ to the fans, it’s tough for me to express how I feel. It’s hard to put into words how much I appreciate it.”
Sensitive Shot
Lakers rookie D’Angelo Russell got drilled in his groin area by a hard pass thrown by James in the fourth quarter. Russell dropped to the floor and stayed there for several moments before he walked gingerly to the bench, where Bryant was laughing at him.
“Once I knew he was OK, the jokes write themselves,” Bryant said.
Aches and Pains
Bryant will make his 16th All-Star game appearance this weekend, but he could use the extra rest.
“I feel horrible, my ankles, knees, everything,” Bryant said. “This stretch couldn’t come at a better time. My ankles hurt. My knees hurt. I’m looking forward to having a complete week where I do nothing.”
