Wearing a mask to protect a broken nose, 14-time all-star Kobe Bryant finished with 31 points and eight assists as the Los Angeles Lakers routed Minnesota 104-85 on Wednesday.
Bryant, the NBA’s leading scorer, donned the clear plastic mask after suffering a broken nose and concussion in the 61st NBA All-Star game on Sunday.
Bryant shot 11-of-23 from the field in 33 minutes of playing time on Wednesday and said the mask took some getting used to, but he never considered going without it.
Photo: EPA
“My nose was too tender. When my nose stops being so sensitive I will take it off,” he said. “It got hot. I felt like I had a sauna on my face. Like I was drinking my own sweat.”
Bryant, who has five NBA championship rings, was cleared to play against the Timberwolves just prior to tip off on Wednesday after undergoing a battery of tests conducted by a neurologist earlier in the day.
Bryant said he was not experiencing migraines and most of the pain was in his neck area.
Pau Gasol finished with 15 points and Andrew Bynum had 13 points and 13 rebounds for the Lakers, who opened a three-game homestand on Wednesday. The Lakers have won six in a row at home and face Wade’s Heat on Sunday at Staples Center.
Michael Beasley and Martell Webster each finished with 14 points to lead Minnesota, who have lost 17 straight contests to the Lakers.
Minnesota point guard Luke Ridnour rounded out the scoring in the first half by making a layup off a turnover by Bryant to pull the ’Wolves within six points at the half, 50-44.
Bryant sank a pair of free throws to cap off a 17-5 Lakers run at the end of the third quarter to make it 83-59.
The Timberwolves were missing all-star forward Kevin Love, who suffered injured ribs in Tuesday’s 109-97 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.
Minnesota were to finish off a four-game road trip with a game in Phoenix, Arizona, yesterday and in Portland, Oregon, tomorrow. They are in the middle of playing 11 of 15 contests on the road.
Thunder 92, 76ers 88
Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant scored some key late points to steer the Thunder to a win over the Philadelphia 76ers in Wednesday’s clash of NBA divisional leaders.
Coming off his MVP performance in the All-Star game, Durant struggled a bit. The two-time scoring champion shot 7 of 18, but he made key baskets and free throws and added a clutch steal late in the game as the Thunder overcame a seven-point fourth-quarter deficit.
He finished with 23 points, while Russell Westbrook had 22 points and 13 rebounds as the NBA leaders won their sixth straight game.
Andre Iguodala and Jrue Holiday each had 18 points for the 76ers.
Grizzlies 96, Mavericks 85
In Memphis, Tennessee, Marc Gasol had 22 points and 11 rebounds in Memphis’ win over Dallas.
Mike Conley added 20 points and 10 assists for the Grizzlies, who capitalized on the absence of Dallas star Dirk Nowitzki. The German scored only one point before leaving the game early in the second quarter with lower back tightness.
Jason Terry’s 18 points led the defending champion Mavericks, who lost their third straight.
Warriors 85, Hawks 82
In Atlanta, Georgia, David Lee scored 22 points, including the go-ahead basket with 30 seconds remaining, as Golden State answered a late comeback by Atlanta.
The Warriors kept the lead until Zaza Pachulia scored with 52 seconds remaining for a 78-78 tie. Lee then drove past Pachulia to score with 30 seconds remaining to give the lead back to Golden State.
Donta Ellis had 24 points and eight assists, while Lee had 12 rebounds for a double-double.
In other NBA play, it was:
‧ Celtics 102, Bucks 96
‧ Magic 102, Wizards 95
‧ Raptors 95, Hornets 84
‧ Pistons 109, Bobcats 94
‧ Bulls 96, Spurs 89
‧ Nuggets 104, Trail Blazers 95
‧ Jazz 104, Rockets 83
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