NBA: On lackluster night Bryant shines when it counts
LOS ANGELES – Kobe Bryant made just three baskets on Saturday, but his nightmarish night included one dream shot: a go-ahead three-pointer with 20 seconds left in the Lakers’ NBA victory over New Orleans.
Kobe Bryant. AP FILE PHOTO
Bryant, the league’s scoring leader, finished the night three-for-21 from the floor with a total of 11 points, but the Lakers still managed to beat the Hornets 88-85
He missed his first 15 attempts, and his key basket with the clock ticking down was his only three-pointer in eight attempts on the night.
Article continues after this advertisement“I’m stubborn. That’s probably what it is,” Bryant said of his decision to go for the shot, which gave the Lakers an 86-85 lead. “If I’d have missed that shot, everybody would have killed me.”
Bryant had never before missed more than 11 shots to start a game or more than 13 consecutive attempts during a game.
“Fatigue might have something to do with it,” said Bryant, who was relieved his shooting woes didn’t cost the Lakers a victory against the Hornets, the Western Conference’s last place team, who had only eight healthy players to call on.
Article continues after this advertisement“The schedule’s a little crazy,” he said of the jam-packed slate of games each team is facing as the lockout-shortened NBA season hurtles toward its close on April 26. “But I’m fine. It’s going to be OK. I’m going to figure it out. I always have.”
Despite Bryant’s struggles, the Lakers led by 14 after the first quarter, but the Hornets had stormed back to take a 10-point lead in the fourth.
Bryant played just over 38 minutes Saturday, right around the 38.6 he was averaging coming into the contest.
“Obviously a couple minutes less would be ideal,” Lakers Coach Mike Brown said. “Hopefully I can get his minutes down from what it is throughout the rest of the year.”
Bryant indicated he didn’t think the game was part of a pattern for him.
“It was just one of those horrible, horrible games,” he said.
