Indeed.
The Lakers' Derek Fisher (2), left and the Sacramento Kings' DeMarcus Cousins (15) right, battle for the ball in the first half in Sacramento.
Bryant showed his recuperative powers Wednesday night with a triple-double, lifting the Lakers to a 5-0 start to this season. The Lakers beat the Sacramento Kings, 112-100, behind Bryant's 30 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists
.
Bryant's 17th career triple-double came after he passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (37,492) for the most minutes played in Lakers history in the game's opening minutes. Bryant is in his 15th Lakers season, a record by one season over Abdul-Jabbar, Jerry West and Elgin Baylor.
Bryant's next milestone likely will come in the next game Friday against Toronto. He is four field goals behind West (9,016) for second place in Lakers history. Abdul-Jabbar, the league's all-time leading scorer, is first (9,935).
The Lakers overcame their second half of their first back-to-back set of the season and a Sacramento team hyped up for a rare ESPN appearance. They did it with uncommon composure: They had six turnovers, tying their low from all of last season — and they only had that many because they had three in the fourth quarter. Bryant had his first turnover very near the end of his 37-minute outing.
Lamar Odom aggravated his sprained left thumb in the third quarter. It was hurt originally late in training camp, but after a timeout Wednesday night Odom stayed in the game and finished with another big-time effort — 18 points and eight rebounds — to complement Pau Gasol's 22 points and 10 rebounds.
It was Fisher, Bryant's longtime teammate, who made sure Bryant's big night would not come in a defeat. Fisher redeemed a missed foul shot and then missed 3-point shot by hitting a 3-pointer in rhythm soon after. He also had a steal and a transition three-point play for a 13-point lead with 3:14 to play.
The Lakers were outscored in the paint, 52-46, by the Kings, but the Lakers continued their excellent 3-point shooting this season: They came in at 45.6 percent and made 11 of 21 (52.4 percent) Wednesday night.
.
Bryant's 17th career triple-double came after he passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (37,492) for the most minutes played in Lakers history in the game's opening minutes. Bryant is in his 15th Lakers season, a record by one season over Abdul-Jabbar, Jerry West and Elgin Baylor.
Bryant's next milestone likely will come in the next game Friday against Toronto. He is four field goals behind West (9,016) for second place in Lakers history. Abdul-Jabbar, the league's all-time leading scorer, is first (9,935).
The Lakers overcame their second half of their first back-to-back set of the season and a Sacramento team hyped up for a rare ESPN appearance. They did it with uncommon composure: They had six turnovers, tying their low from all of last season — and they only had that many because they had three in the fourth quarter. Bryant had his first turnover very near the end of his 37-minute outing.
Lamar Odom aggravated his sprained left thumb in the third quarter. It was hurt originally late in training camp, but after a timeout Wednesday night Odom stayed in the game and finished with another big-time effort — 18 points and eight rebounds — to complement Pau Gasol's 22 points and 10 rebounds.
It was Fisher, Bryant's longtime teammate, who made sure Bryant's big night would not come in a defeat. Fisher redeemed a missed foul shot and then missed 3-point shot by hitting a 3-pointer in rhythm soon after. He also had a steal and a transition three-point play for a 13-point lead with 3:14 to play.
The Lakers were outscored in the paint, 52-46, by the Kings, but the Lakers continued their excellent 3-point shooting this season: They came in at 45.6 percent and made 11 of 21 (52.4 percent) Wednesday night.
No comments:
Post a Comment