Lakers’ Kobe Bryant (shoulder) out against Thunder on Saturday

Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook own six of the NBA’s last 10 scoring titles, but while Bryant sat out due to a sore shoulder, the Oklahoma City duo went to work feasting on the Lakers’ defense. For what it’s worth, Byron Scott said after the game that he expects Kobe Bryant to play Tuesday against the Nuggets.

Any Bryant injury is important to track because his last three seasons ended early – an Achilles’ tendon rupture in 2012-13, a fractured knee in 2013-14 and then his shoulder last season after a baseline dunk in New Orleans. The Lakers do make another trip to OKC in April, but this is a major bummer for those who bought tickets hoping to see an National Basketball Association legend in person.

Houston led by as many as 26 points in the first half and was up by 12 after three quarters. “They didn’t play well at all”.

Though the youth and inexperience of this young Lakers squad have been exposed on many occasions throughout the season, each and every game is vital to the development of these players.

The praise flowed out endlessly as Oklahoma City forward Kevin Durant called Kobe Bryant “a champion” and “an iconic figure”.

L.A. trailed by 46 in the final two minutes, teetering on the largest losing margin in franchise history (48).

Bryant did show off a little youth Thursday, throwing down his first dunk of the season in a 107-87 loss to Houston. “We talked about a bunch of stuff”.

“I don’t look at my legacy from the standpoint of ‘Where do I fit in with the greatest of all time?'” Bryant said.

“Five games is obviously a small sample”, he said.

Bryant said, “It was a reward for all the hours I spent from training, working and stretching. You can get excited about that”, said George Belch, chairman of the San Diego State University marketing department. His teammates cheered endlessly, including rookie point guard D’Angelo Russell drawing a technical foul for running off the bench and sprinting along the baseline.

“I think it was progress”.

“It was tough to go through”, Durant said.

“I think the most important thing, the most lovely thing is how does your legacy impact the generation of players to come and the generation of players now playing”.

Bryant, who will turn 38 two days after the gold medal match on 21 August at Carioca Arena 1, first confirmed he wanted to play in Rio – where he would be among a select group of US players (along with LeBron James, Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony) going for a third consecutive gold medal – in November.