Kobe misses game with sore shoulder

“Being able to say thank you to the fans was a lovely moment”.

Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant loses the ball next to Boston Celtics’ Jae Crowder during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game in Boston on Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2015. He stopped and exchanged hugs with Boston owner Wyc Grousbeck and his family and then did a television interview in the corner before making his way to the locker room amid more roars.

“I remember my daughter was having a hard time in softball in a semifinal game, striking out, and she was crying”. Well, this is game 10, and, like I said, I’d give it about five, 10 games…but I’m really kind of inclined to let this play out until the end of the year.

The 76ers, who’ve won three games this season, are in Los Angeles.

In Sacramento, Ish Smith scored five of his 18 points over the final 3½ minutes and Jamari Grant made three late free throws for Philadelphia.

After finishing his on-court interview, Bryant then walked through the entrance tunnel and high-fived fans For one last time, Bryant thanked the crowd for cheering for him after once relishing the crowd for endlessly booing him. The Lakers also made significant moves, including a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies to get versatile big man, Pau Gasol.

After the game Kobe left applauding and bumping his chest towards the Boston crowd, a clear sign that the future Hall of Famer respects his most bitter rival.

“It was unbelievable”, Bryant said.

Perhaps the only all-time great who got to enjoy a Goldilocks retirement is John Elway.

Bryant shot just 5-of-18 from the field but had 11 rebounds for the night. Jordan Clarkson scored 24 points and Lou Williams had 19 as Los Angeles stopped a four-game slide.

Rookie D’Angelo Russell had a nice TD Garden debut by scoring 16 points even though Scott chuckled at the teenager’s lack of experience in the long Lakers-Celtics history.

Isaiah Thomas scored 24 points for Boston, which cut an 11-point deficit to two shortly before Bryant’s 3-pointer. Noel is averaging 17.3 points on 22-of-28 shooting during the stretch and has a season-best 20 points in Wednesday’s win over Sacramento. “I’ve always loved it. It’s a little weird, isn’t it?” He’s a great player.

“You got this buffet you can pick and choose what’s best for the players”, said Brown, who also was a Spurs assistant for nine years. “Everywhere that he goes”, Celtics guard Avery Bradley said.

“For the second half of my career, it’s the most important piece”, he said.

“I think sometimes I balance in between looking (to) pass and (the) first thing is flashing at the post and looking for my shot”, he said of getting started.

“I think what the fans are doing everywhere we go so far are just showing their appreciation”. It’s not the first time this has happened this season. Because when we lost (to the Celtics) in 2008, that was the turn for me.

The USA became the first team to qualify for Rio 2016 when they won last year’s FIBA World Cup.