Kobe Bryant being honored by Hawks and Zoo Atlanta on Friday night

By the time Bryant’s pull-up jumper sent Bradley Beal backpedaling and gave the Lakers a 103-101 lead with 30.8 seconds remaining, the Verizon Center sounded more like Staples Center in Los Angeles. In 2004, a Lakers team that included Shaquille O’Neal and Hall of Famers Karl Malone and Gary Payton lost three straight there as the underdog Pistons won the NBA Finals in five. But someone who puts so much into this game of basketball, has the footwork, has the angles and knows how to get to where he wants to be, he doesn’t have to be athletic and faster than everyone anymore.

A capacity crowd of 19,015 – just the Hawks’ fourth sellout of the season – came out to be part of Bryant’s last game in Atlanta and saw only a few flashes from the NBA’s third-best scorer in history.

Bryant also will make his last stops in Toronto and Minnesota on this eight-game trek that began Tuesday in his home city of Philadelphia.

Bryant struggled in the first two games after announcing his retirement, scoring a combined 33 points on 11 for 46 shooting. At least he got to finish the game.

The Lakers shot just 32.5 percent from the floor in the first half compared with 44.4 percent by the Hawks. “I’m going to ride with whatever happens”.

The amount of respect that each team thus far has shown Bryant really goes to show just how much he has done for the sport and the way that he has changed the game. Walking down the tunnel and so forth.

Next up for Los Angeles will be a Sunday visit to Detroit to take on the 11-9 Pistons.

Lakers: Williams, a former Hawk who grew up in the Atlanta suburbs, drew plenty of cheers through the night.

“We’re lucky it was a four-point game”, coach Randy Wittman said. The Hawks, though, outscored the Lakers 13-4 to end the game.

The circus was showing in a less-enthused arena, and the Lakers (3-16) acted like it. By halftime, their discombobulated offense had mustered all of 36 points, otherwise known as a typical quarter for Golden State. “I just wish him well”.

Pre-Achilles Kobe always hit the buzzer beater, his clutch was always on, but post-Achilles Kobe is throwing up air ball three’s and bricking his jumpers.

“I can’t sit here and say I was 110-percent focused on everything”, Scott said.

Through the first 16 games of the season, it was apparent that Kobe was willing himself against Father Time.

“I think it would be great if he could get in a position to be able to contribute in other ways with his mind, with his ability to see things on the court that most people could never see”.

The Pistons, losers of 12 of 13 in the series, last defeated Los Angeles 88-85 on March 6, 2012.