Timberwolves tip Lakers in OT as youth outshines Kobe

“I’m always out there competing and want to play hard and play good against him”, Leonard said. “But that situation for me is over and done with”.

Lakers coach Byron Scott said before the game he can’t ever remember Bryant smiling this much on the court, during the game.

Yet even those faithful Wolves fans who aren’t Bryant’s biggest supporters showed a little admiration Wednesday.

But he said the support for a visiting star didn’t bother him. Even beyond his play on the floor, he’s played as great a role as anyone in the worldwide expansion of the game. Houston is getting its act together under interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff and topped 100 points for the eighth straight game when it notched a 109-103 victory over the Washington Wizards on Wednesday. “They (Russell and Randle) were playing with good energy and great momentum”.

“You go out and feel the warm embrace from the crowd and you don’t think about the negative side (of retirement)”, Bryant said. “You got to get people to do their jobs and try to bring the best out of them”. The team ran out of time to go in-depth on basketball analytics and requested a follow-up with Aldridge to go over it.

Here’s what else you need to know about the Lakers’ 126-97 loss to the Rockets at Toyota Center… But the Lakers (3-21) were undone by the Rockets’ exceptional perimeter shooting, with Houston nailing 15 of 33 3-pointers to stymie all rallies. Bryant was ecstatic on the sideline, and was the first to congratulate Russell for the basket. But enough throat clearing. “But on the basketball court, it’s my responsibility to get us to a championship level come hell or high water”. Anyone think these Lakers are capable of coming back from a deficit so large? The first question on everyone’s mind is: Will Kobe Bryant make it in as a lifetime achievement award? Bryant was-and still is-married to Vanessa Bryant, who miscarried during the rape trial. “I can take pain”.

The game will be the second to the last time Spurs fans will see future Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant in a Lakers uniform in the Alamo City. Bryant delivered to the delight of his supporters, posting 25 points, seven rebounds, six assists and three steals despite sitting out the fourth quarter. But he’s been sliding since making a move to the bench.

Celtics 105, Bulls 100: Isaiah Thomas scored nine of his 20 points in the final three minutes to lead Boston past Chicago. While he was close to a double-double, he shot just 3-of-11 from the field and drew harsh criticism from Scott. “Let’s see what they do, ‘” Scott said through the The LA Times. This is past year. “I was cheering his name too”.

Bryant got that all night.

“Every game is different”, Popovich said when asked about starting Simmons in the second half. The longest road trip in seven years is over and the Lakers returned home late Saturday to the comfort of their own homes.

Unfortunately, the Wolves were unable to capitalize as they committed a shot clock violation with 9.4 seconds left in the game.