Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard Say There’s No More Beef

Kobe Bryant, left, talks with teammates on the bench during the second half the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday. At this point there is nearly zero doubt that the Lakers will retain him as he is one of their very few bright spots but the question now becomes how big of a pay raise is he in for. “We’ve still got a ways to go”. Los Angeles struggled with turnovers once again, coughing up the rock 19 times for 35 Houston fast break points.

With Los Angeles down by three headed to the fourth quarter, it was Russell who shone brightest for the Lakers.

A 3-pointer by Nick Young with about seven minutes left got the Lakers within 11, but a 13-2 run by Houston pushed the lead to 115-93 and the Rockets cruised to the victory.

“It’s like my rhythm is starting to come back a little and my legs are moving pretty well”, Bryant said.

And, at least to start with, it appeared Bryant might roll back the clock a little bit. He had 12 points on five-for-14 shooting and added four assists with three steals.

It was reminiscent of a game a year ago against the Knicks when he scored 37 points despite breaking a bone in his hand in the first quarter. Harden and Thornton shot a combined 7 for 13 from behind the arc. The veteran guard exchanged text messages with Bryant leading up to the Rockets facing off against the eventual National Basketball Association champion Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Finals.

Lakers Coach said the legends have another similarity.

“I think people see the talent these two teams have as far as young players”, Wolves coach Sam Mitchell said.

The Houston Rockets are certainly not where they want to be yet.

Despite Bryant’s solid outing, the Lakers have problems, too.

Wiggins, who gave the Wolves the lead for good in overtime, finished with 19 points. Aldridge topped that with 16 points, including 14 in the first quarter. Then Bryant sank his first attempt. I was chanting his name, too. “He’s an iconic figure and when those kind of guys stop playing the league misses them, you miss them”.

Kobe Bryant, playing his last game in Minnesota went to the bench late in the third quarter and reportedly told coach Byron Scott “to let the kids play”. D’Angelo Russell scored nine of the Lakers’ final 11 points in regulation. Bryant is a serious competitor who is always focused, while Howard loves to clown around and only play serious when he feels like it. This feud wasn’t as serious as Kobe’s feud with Shaq, so it’s no surprise that they are on good terms now. Patty Mills led that charge as he nailed back-to-back three’s.

“They have forced us to be our absolute best whenever we played against them”, he said. “I think it’s a testament to both.”… “I’m going to tell the commissioner to look at a couple of my games and I should be nominated [for Defensive Player of the Year] and if not, it’s like they snubbed Drake’s ‘Hotline [Bling]’ from the Grammys”.