Larry Nance Jr. savoring role with Los Angeles Lakers

Westbrook had 23 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for the Thunder (20-9).

The Thunder made 54 percent from the field, holding the Lakers to just 36 percent.

Marc Gasol scored 19 points and Mike Conley added 18 as Memphis routed Philadelphia.

“Because I knew how hard I worked, I knew how many shots I took… there was nothing I could do”. At the end of NBA’s 70th season, the 37-year-old shooting guard, who is regarded as one of the best all-round players basketball has ever seen, will be retiring. Coming off their biggest margin over the Los Angeles Lakers and their biggest road victory against the Los Angeles Clippers, The Thunder now look to Beat LA the third time in a span of five days.

“Both. Because it’s a great test for me tonight to be able to see if I could still play both ends of the floor”, Bryant said via ESPN.

In the first half of the Thunder’s eventual 120-85 romp over the Lakers, both players bit on one of Bryant’s pump fakes.

Bryant said he’s looking forward to more matchups with the NBA’s top guns in his farewell season.

Bryant’s response: “I got him”.

If progress was measured in point differential, the Lakers improved by exactly five points since getting pummeled by the Thunder last Saturday. Without no. 24 in the lineup, the Lakers have lost by an average of 18.5 points per game, though the 40-point loss to Oklahoma City skews that statistic slightly. “I don’t want to be looked at as a softie”. “It makes no sense to be yelling at it. It’s as simple as that”. It has beaten the Lakers six straight times, matching the longest such streak by the Oklahoma City/Seattle SuperSonics franchise. Westbrook and Serge Ibaka each scored 14 points in the half, offsetting 17 by Bryant. He had a behind-the-back pass in the third quarter that set up a 3-pointer by Lou Williams. The veteran has gradually found his rhythm with the season going and helped the Lakers pull away with a win with a season-high 31 points. The Nuggets increased their lead in the second period, scoring 30 points in the quarter to lead 64-51 at the half. “He plays with no fear”.

“I had more fans than him”, Nance Jr. joked. He’d be unstoppable in the block, at his size.

“Listen, you have to be realistic about what we’re facing and where we are right now as a team and as an organization”, Bryant said.

“That type of stuff is the stuff that I’ll miss”.

“Barton was tearing us up in the first half”, Scott said. Life for Lakers after Kobe: The Lakers have established a young core of D’Angelo Russell, Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson.

Love him or hate him, Kobe Bryant is Denver’s National Basketball Association villain, and he deserves a proper farewell tour. Nikola Jokic scored 15 points off the bench.