Lakers hold off Pelicans for second consecutive victory

He immediately hit a 3-pointer from the right wing and came back on the Lakers’ next possession to nail another long-range jumper from the left wing.

Jordan Clarkson made his first eight shots to help the Lakers open up a double-digit lead.

The Lakers went on to win, 99-96. “It’s been worth it”, said Bryant.

“It makes me feel great”, Bryant said of turning a Pelicans crowd into Kobe admirers.

Bryant, who plans to retire after the season, noted that he’d even met a child on the sidelines named Kobe, and seemed gratified to have added such a moment to his farewell tour. Bryant also returned with 12 rebounds but missed a free throw with 6 seconds remaining in the final quarter.

There were smatterings of purple and gold throughout the stands – only a small minority of it LSU gear.

At one point, fans chanted “MVP” for the future hall of famer.

Bryant started quickly, making four of his first five shots and scored 11 of his points in the opening quarter.

The Pelicans missed a couple of dunks among a number of misses from short range. “That’s what happened tonight and they won”.

New Orleans was bad from behind both lines, going 4-for-20 on three point attempts and 14-for-26 at the free throw line. “I just been working and trying to get my legs”.

NOTES: Kobe Bryant played his second-to-last game in New Orleans, eliciting memories of a 50-point performance in a regular-season game against the New Orleans Hornets in 2007.

“I knew the amount of training that I had put in over the summertime”. “When that happens, the “Kobe Factor” becomes a possibility, and that’s exactly what happened”. “I think everybody who has watched him play – love him or hate him – they respect him and his work ethic, how he brings it to the game every single night”. After a 6-0 Pelicans run cut the deficit to six, Bryant reentered the ballgame with 6:30 to go.

New Orleans head coach Alvin Gentry was extremely disappointed in his team’s effort.

Instead, he hit the back iron, and D’Angelo Russell snagged the rebound. As a result, Los Angeles defeated New Orleans for a second time this season in as many tries. Ryan Anderson and Bryce Dejean-Jones each scored 17….

Pelicans: G Tyreke Evans missed his fifth straight game with right knee soreness.