"Sometimes you live and die with (Kobe Bryant), and I'm willing to do that with him," Los Angeles Lakers coach Byron Scott said to reporters and a TWC SportsNet television camera on Monday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Paul George led the hometown Indiana Pacers (28-24) with 21 points and nine rebounds in an 89-87 victory over the Lakers (11-43) on Monday night, as George outlasted his 37-year-old counterpart. Asked about it after the game, George offered the cold remarks of, "Well, he is old."
For the first two and a half quarters, the Lakers and Pacers combined to play basketball so poor that the Hoosier state had to be reconsidering its historic support of the sport. At halftime, the Lakers were shooting below 30 percent and somehow only trailed by eight points. On the night, neither team would manage to shoot even 40 percent. All in all, it as ugly.
However, the game went from watching paint dry to adding a bit of color to the fence when rookie D'Angelo Russell stepped onto the court for the final four minutes of the third period.
The Lakers trailed by 17 points when the 19-year-old joined the second half. Russell contributed and conducted the Lakers' comeback alongside starters Bryant, Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle. The talented guard played with poise and purpose. When the quarter concluded, Russell had helped the Lakers cut their deficit to only five points.
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Russell put on a bit of a show and did his best "Black Mamba" impression, as he aggressively attacked on the break, hit from long range and even converted a turnaround fadeaway jump shot. For a change, Scott rewarded Russell and allowed the 19-year-old to finish the contest. The former Ohio State Buckeye finished with 16 points, five rebounds, five assists, four steals and only one turnover.
However, that extra time on the court may not have been helped by Bryant taking over the narrative of the game.
When Bryant returned to the court in the fourth quarter, the Lakers trailed by six points with 4:44 showing on the game clock. LA had come within four points twice in the second half, but that was before Bryant put on his dark sunglasses and temporarily broke the Matrix.
On his first attempt, Bryant's three-point attempt nearly dropped but stayed out. His next shot also missed the mark, but the frustrated forward followed his rebound and hit a mid-range jump shot. That would be his first make of the second half.
With that first made shot, Bryant suddenly resembled the 21-year-old kid that carried the Lakers to victory in Game 4 of the 2000 NBA Finals at the same arena.
He hit a three-pointer. Then, he hit another. After he had made three shots in a row, Bryant attempted a 27-foot three-point shot that would be considered ill advised for just about any player. He hit it. On four consecutive possessions, Bryant scored for the Lakers.
Only, Bryant didn't stop shooting.
Unfortunately for the Lakers, two and a half minutes are an eternity in basketball, especially when a 37-year-old is chucking attempts from 30 feet. The 20-year professional continued to shoot and shoot and shoot. Bryant missed his final five shot attempts, as the Lakers' lead evaporated and their deficit ballooned. On the night, Bryant shot 6-25 for 19 points, including 4-14 from beyond the arc. When Bryant left the game to a thunderous ovation with 10.8 seconds showing on the game clock, the Pacers led by five points.
"I pulled a rabbit out a hat, and the rabbit disappeared," Bryant offered a unique explanation and a wry smile after the game.
With the Pacers crossed off, Bryant only has 28 games remaining in his NBA career.
Notes: Randle finished with 15 points and 19 rebounds. Bryant finished as the Lakers' top scorer with 19 points. Indiana's Myles Turner finished with 14 points and 13 rebounds.
All quotes courtesy of TWC SportsNet
