Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard feud over?

Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Dwight Howard #12 of the Houston Rockets exchange words during a secong half incident that resulted in a technical foul against each player, a personal foul against Bryant, and a flagrant foul against Howard at Staples Center on October 28, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. Several are for San Antonio specific events but a white shirt with a modified version of the Los Angeles Lakers’ logo screenprinted on the front stands out. It was a shockingly competitive quarter, due largely to Kobe Bryant going an nearly ideal 4-for-5 from the field and the Lakers shooting over 50% overall. Many felt he was just too selfish and couldn’t co-exist with Bryant still around.

Bryant’s performance was a far cry from his glory days when he used to strike fear in the hearts of the Spurs.

The Spurs, like the Laker, s are a historic franchise in the National Basketball Association.

Notably, he hit D’Angelo Russell in stride for a fastbreak basket and craftily fed Larry Nance Jr. for a dunk after appearing to go up for a shot.

“That’s the LaMarcus we need all the time”, said forward David West. “We need him being aggressive, demonstrative, confident and just playing his game. We have had had some epic battles”.

As time expired, Bryant ran over to give San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich a long hug, and the longtime competitors spoke for a couple of minutes.

Kobe Bryant couldn’t be blamed.

But those plans were scrapped after Bryant announced on November 30 that he will retire after the season. Bryant’s 45 points against San Antonio in the 2001 Western Conference semifinals is a record by a Spurs’ playoff opponent.

Bryant came out with a pass-first demeanor. The Lakers fall to 3-20 on the season with the loss. Between he and Johnathan Simmons, they did a good job on Bryant.

Besides Leonard, he is San Antonio’s best wing defender, and the duo are crucial to the Spurs suffocating half court defense this season.

To make sure he can play in as many games and at as high a level as his body will let him, Bryant didn’t attend shootaround either day. “(Tuesday) was probably one of his worst games he’s ever played to date and so for him it was all about coming out, being aggressive and getting off to a great start.”BUZZER BEATERS 1.

It’s much more likely that this 29 percent season from three is the outlier, and not the last four (42 percent, 42 percent, 43 percent and 44 percent) seasons.

Aldridge fed a cutting Manu Ginobili for a reverse layup, and Ginobili returned the favor on the following possession, lobbing the ball into Aldridge for a layup.

With Bryant playing the role of facilitator – he had five of the Lakers’ first seven assists – Los Angeles raced to a 25-21 lead following a transition layup from Russell with 3:33 left in the first quarter. Jordan Clarkson sat out, nursing the ankle injury he suffered against the Minnesota Timberwolves.