Pelicans beat Cavs to snap losing streak; Hawks drub Lakers

We’ve been taking a step forward and two steps back.

In this week’s Inside the Huddle, the Spinnaker Sports squad is reflecting on the legend that is Kobe Bryant, who announced over the weekend that he is planning on retiring at the end of this season. Displaying vintage moves with pull-up and fadeaway jumpers before a crowd roaring his every move with approval, the 20-year veteran efficiently scored in the first half while leaving enough energy left for the fourth quarter. Joining us in this farewell tribute to Kobe is Spinnaker’s print distributor Raza Shareef. After getting a convincing win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, the team melted down in the second half against the Toronto Raptors.

When it was over, Bryant shared hugs with Kyle Korver, Paul Millsap and former teammate Kent Bazemore before heading to the locker room.

Plus, the Lakers (3-15) are going nowhere in the standings and, nudge, nudge, it wouldn’t hurt them to finish with a poor record if they want to keep their first-round pick in next June’s draft.

LAKERS KOBE BRYANT ON HOW HIS LEGS FELT AFTER PLAYING FIVE GAMES IN SEVEN NIGHTS: “Not very good”. You’ve got one of the best players to ever play out there.

The Hawks outscored the Lakers 29-17 in the second quarter to take a 52-36 halftime lead as they committed just two turnovers and got 12 points from Horford.

The video ended with Tony Ressler and Dominique Wilkins thanking Bryant for everything that he has done for the game of basketball.

“People are going to come out and support him”, Wizards guard said of Bryant while noting the transient nature of the D.C. area. “Unfortunately, we couldn’t pull it out”.

Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant told coach Byron Scott last weekend that he would be announcing his retirement after 20 seasons in the National Basketball Association.

“I didn’t hold up my end of the bargain”, James said of 2009, when the Cavs were upset by the Orlando Magic in the conference finals.

As his farewell tour continues, Kobe Bryant returns to the site of one of the lower moments of his brilliant career. The second-year guard Clarkson did not see any time in the final period, and with Scott and Bryant lamenting the Lakers being exhausted in the final minutes, it’s peculiar Scott did not look to Clarkson. G Tim Hardaway Jr., acquired from the New York Knicks for their first-round pick on draft night, was assigned by the Hawks to Canton of the NBA Development League.

In ATS trends, the Lakers are 2-6 ATS in their last eight games overall and 1-5 ATS in their last six road games, while the Hawks are 4-0 ATS in their last four games following a loss and 4-9 ATS in their last 13 games overall.

Suns: Center Tyson Chandler missed his fourth straight game because of a strained right hamstring.