Cavs’ Kevin Love re-injures left shoulder against Lakers

Kobe Bryant‘s last game in Cleveland against LeBron James and company didn’t go well at all, really, for Los Angeles.

The real story of the game, however, ended up being Love’s injury. Bryant vehemently demanded that the Los Angeles Lakers trade him to either Chicago Bulls, Phoenix Suns or San Antonio Spurs. Love left the floor in a hurry with his left arm dangling at his side and Cavaliers General Manager David Griffin following him up the tunnel and toward the locker room. “It felt like fire was running down my arm”, Love said.

One of the final Kobe and LeBron duels was a dud in Cleveland.

Cleveland carried a 19-point lead into the fourth quarter, but struggled to put away the lowly Lakers.

Bryant’s four-point play cut the Cavaliers’ lead to 104-95.

James Harden had 34 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds for the Rockets, who have dropped three straight and six of eight to fall out of playoff position.

Lou Williams led the team in scoring this night with 28, while Jordan Clarkson and Kobe Bryant finished with 22 and 17 points, respectively. James rifled a pass intended for Iman Shumpert but hit D’Angelo Russell in the groin in the third quarter. However, James and Irving would lead the Cavs’ charge and hold off the Lakers.

“Doctors warned Love after his shoulder surgery last spring things like this could happen from time to time, but it was the first time he experienced it. He still doesn’t have full range of motion back in the shoulder because, ‘my stuff is anchored down pretty tight in there and it will always kind of be like that, ‘ he said”. It’s more than just his game.

“He has a killer mentality”, Bryant said. Wednesday was a significant piece of those final pages.

Don’t get me started on Nick Young.

“I can’t wait to be around them and talk to them and see how far the game has progressed, see all this young talent the different generations of players”, said the 16-time All-Star.

It just goes hand in hand, doesn’t it?

There is a mutual respect between Bryant and James, who shared a hug when Bryant checked out of the game in the final minute to a standing ovation from the visiting crowd.

Bryant had already been in the league seven years when James arrived and the two never had an opportunity to see their friendship evolve into a true rivalry.

The Cavaliers presented Bryant with a video tribute during lineup introductions.

Tonight they’ll know that Kobe Bryant will be jacking up a lot of shots as his farewell tour continues. Business related, players association related. “Sometimes what is known doesn’t need to be said”.

Bryant won five, while James has two (and possibly counting).

It was a game-high total and a season-high total for Irving, more than James’ 29 and more than doubling Bryant’s 17.

“It didn’t matter to me”, Bryant insisted. I just missed that thing completely.

“I don’t think we take it serious all the time”, Lue said. “You just want to win the championship”.

“His competitive nature”, James said when asked what he admires most about Bryant. “There’s something that’s in you that gets you to that level”.

Bryant was considered questionable, but he continues to push himself to play in every Eastern Conference road game during this his final season. Paul Millsap scored 15, and the Southeast Division leaders headed into the All-Star break on a winning note after back-to-back losses to last-place Orlando.

Forward Tristan Thompson had 15 points and 13 rebounds for the Cavaliers.