Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant reacts after sinking a 3-point shot late in the second half of the team’s NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans in New Orleans, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016. AP
NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana—Kobe Bryant scored 27 points, hitting three pivotal three-pointers in the last six-plus minutes, and the Los Angeles Lakers won their second straight, 99-96 over the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday night.
Bryant, who scored a season-high 38 points at Minnesota two nights earlier, held his follow-through as his final three went through with a minute left to put the Lakers up 98-92, then wagged his index finger as if to say, “Don’t doubt me,” as he jogged back up court with a good portion of the crowd cheering wildly.
Bryant, who also grabbed 12 rebounds, missed a free throw with 6 seconds left that allowed the Pelicans a chance to tie the game with a 3, but Jrue Holiday’s shot missed the rim as time expired.
Anthony Davis had 39 points and 11 rebounds for the Pelicans, but his missed breakaway dunk in the fourth quarter seemed to define the night for New Orleans, which lost its third straight.
The Pelicans missed a couple of dunks among a number of misses from short range. They also missed 12 of 26 free throws.
There were smatterings of purple and gold throughout the stands – only a small minority of it LSU gear. Lakers fans who wanted to honor Bryant in his final season showed up and made themselves heard with cheers that filled the arena each time Bryant checked into the game and when he hit shots. At one point in the first half, an “M-V-P!” chant broke out with Bryant on the foul line.
The cheers that erupted after his late baskets seemed somewhat bizarre, given that they spoiled the home team’s frantic attempt to come back from a 12-point, fourth-quarter deficit.
Jordan Clarkson scored 18 points for the Lakers, who’d lost 10 straight before beating the Timberwolves and Pelicans this week. D’Angelo Russell added 13 points and Julius Randle 11.
Holiday scored 19 for New Orleans, but missed five of six 3s he attempts as New Orleans went 4-of-20 from deep. Ryan Anderson and Bryce Dejean-Jones each scored 17.
New Orleans missed eight of its first nine shots and trailed 13-2 just four minutes into the game.
Bryant started quickly, making four of his first five shots and scored 11 of his points in the opening quarter.
The Lakers led by 12 when Randle’s jumper made it 26-14, but New Orleans stormed into the lead, however briefly, by closing the quarter on a 14-0 run that included five points by Dejean-Jones.
Los Angeles seized control right back in the second quarter, going back up by 12 with a 14-2 run fueled largely by Clarkson’s seven points on a jumper, three and layup.
Clarkson, who scored 16 of his points in the first half, later added another three to give the Lakers their largest lead at 55-42.
Los Angeles led 59-48 at halftime and still led by 10 after a disjointed third quarter characterized by fits and starts by both clubs.