Rookie Jordan Clarkson set a new career-high in assists and got specialized coaching from Kobe Bryant as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Detroit Pistons 95-83 on Tuesday night at Staples Center to snap a five-game losing streak.
Bryant met with the media for over 10 minutes prior to the game. He touched on several topics including his recovery and his future with the team, as Tuesday night marked Bryant's first interview with the LA media since being ruled out for the season due to a torn rotator cuff.
"I think I'm supposed to be allowed to run in a week and a half or two weeks, something like that," Bryant reported his progress. "As far as shooting, I don't know--probably a month or so."
While Bryant provided a great deal of quotes and answered a laundry list of questions, he placed his support behind the Lakers' organization and continued to say he did not plan on playing past 2015-16. However, the 36-year-old, who turns 37 before the start of the next season, refused to rule out the possibility of playing a 21st season. Bryant has been publicly consistent in these stances, so nothing new to report on that front.
Back to Tuesday's game, Bryant sat on the Lakers' bench and continued work with Clarkson during games. In the Lakers' loss on Sunday, the injured guard took a moment to provide the rookie with technical advice with his words.
On Tuesday night, Bryant took that action a step further when he picked up a clipboard and began working with the rookie on the sideline. Related or not, Clarkson had one of the best games of his young career and set a new personal best in assists with eight.
The student has become the teacher. RT @DuranSports: Coach Kobe with rookie Jordan Clarkson. pic.twitter.com/pl4OsBi7YD — Triple Threat (@LA_TripleThreat) March 11, 2015
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"I almost got in trouble one time," Clarkson joked that Bryant's coaching made him forget he had to run the Lakers' offense.
The 22-year-old point guard stole the show in the first half and started with six points, seven assists and two rebounds before the intermission. He would end at eight assists and only one turnover for the game, but the point guard only played 10 minutes in the second half.
In a balanced outing, no Lakers' player finished with more than 13 points and all five starters scored in double figures. Clarkson likely would have earned his first career double-double, but he found himself sitting on the bench late in the game as Jeremy Lin found a good groove in the second half. In all, seven Lakers scored 10 or more points in the game.
Lin scored 12 points and passed off four assists in the second half after going into the break scoreless without attempting a single shot. In the second half, the point guard found the aggression that had been lacking early on.
For Detroit, Greg Monroe finished with 24 points and nine rebounds, while fellow big man Andre Drummond pulled down the game's only double-double with 14 points and 21 rebounds.
The Lakers moved to 17-46 on the the season, but the night would still mark the Lakers' official elimination from the playoffs due to New Orleans beating Brooklyn elsewhere. Even if the Lakers win every game for the remainder of the season, they cannot mathematically qualify for the postseason. This is the earliest elimination from the playoffs in the history of the LA Lakers.
Next, the Lakers host the New York Knicks on Thursday.
