SEATTLE – Kobe Bryant has kept up scoring barrages for the entirety of the past two seasons, so why not a little eight-month trip down memory lane?
With Andrew Bynum’s knee injury leaving the scrambling Lakers to try to win behind little more than Bryant’s individual offense, he delivered: 48 points while playing his third game in four nights with an upper respiratory infection.
This vintage Bryant hit two difficult shots in overtime to bring the Lakers back from a four-point deficit … then went to his longtime favorite move in years past: dribble left, pull-up jumper.
He hit the 18-footer over Seattle rookie Jeff Green, who tilted his head back in disbelief and sighed, with 4.3 seconds left for a 123-121 Lakers lead. It held up when Nick Collison missed an open 18-footer as time expired.
QUOTABLE
Derek Fisher wasn’t on that team, but he is well aware that the Lakers let injuries derail last season around this time and said of Bynum’s injury: “We need to accept this as a challenge at this point.”
NOT ON A ROLL
Midway through the first quarter, Bryant drew two defenders and Kwame Brown was left alone, but he was reluctant to roll toward the basket – something Bynum has done exceptionally well. So Bryant just held the ball before missing a difficult shot.
REINFORCEMENT TIME
Vladimir Radmanovic likely will be back from his ankle sprain Thursday against Phoenix, and Sasha Vujacic could join him as his sore back has improved.
NEXT
Phoenix at Lakers, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, TNT, KLAC/570
