Kobe Bryant won over the fans. He just could not beat the previously winless Philadelphia 76ers.
With the spotlight on Bryant during the final game of his career in his hometown, the Sixers stole the show and defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 103-91 on Tuesday night for their first victory of the season.
The Sixers had lost their first 18 games, and 28 overall dating to last season — the longest skid in the history of major professional sports in the US. However, they remained tied for the worst start in NBA history with the 2009-2010 New Jersey Nets, who also opened 0-18.
PHOTO: AFP
It was the first win for the Sixers since March 25 at Denver.
Bryant, who will end his 20-year career this season, opened the first leg of his farewell tour in his hometown and was feted with the kind of reverence and gratitude normally reserved for a Sixers great.
He buried a three-pointer off the opening tip and hit another three on the next possession. Bryant made it three for three and had the Philly crowd chanting “M-V-P” as he turned back the clock to his championship form.
He scored 20 points on seven-of-26 shooting and made four threes.
Robert Covington scored 23 points for the Sixers.
WIZARDS 97, CAVALIERS 85
In Cleveland, Ohio, John Wall scored a season-high 35 points as Washington handed Cleveland their first home loss of the season.
The Wizards, who never trailed, scored the first 10 points of the game and went on a 9-0 run to begin the second half in snapping a four-game losing streak.
LeBron James had 24 points, but the Cavaliers lost for the first time in 10 games this season at Quicken Loans Arena.
Wall was 14 of 24 from the field and had 10 assists. Bradley Beal scored 18 and Marcin Gortat added 15 points with 11 rebounds for the Wizards.
GRIZZLIES 113, PELICANS 104
In New Orleans, Marc Gasol scored a career-high 38 points and grabbed 13 rebounds as Memphis defeated New Orleans.
The Pelicans lost despite the return of starting guard Tyreke Evans and top reserve Norris Cole. Evans had 20 points and 10 assists, but that was not enough to overcome a Grizzlies squad that scored 52 points in the paint and missed only one of 26 free throws.
Gasol was 11 of 22 from the field and made all 16 of his foul shots. Zach Randolph added 14 points, while Courtney Lee and Matt Barnes scored 13 each.
Anthony Davis had 17 points, 14 rebounds and career high-tying nine blocked shots for the Pelicans. However, he struggled with his shooting, going four of 15 from the field and eight of 13 on free throws.
Ryan Anderson scored 16 for New Orleans, who have lost three straight.
MAGIC 96, TIMBERWOLVES 93
In Minneapolis, Minnesota, Nikola Vucevic had 18 points and 12 rebounds as Orlando topped Minnesota for their fourth straight victory.
Elfrid Payton had 14 points and eight rebounds, and Andrew Nicholson scored 15 for the Magic, who have won four straight for the first time since December 2012.
Andrew Wiggins scored 27 points for the Timberwolves, but missed a free throw with 5.6 seconds to play that would have tied the game. Minnesota shot just 37.7 percent and fell to 2-7 at home this season.
The Magic led by as many as 17 in the third quarter. Minnesota had it tied with 4 minutes, 30 seconds to play, but went 3:40 without a bucket late in the fourth.
In other NBA action, it was:
‧ Mavericks 115, Blazers 112
‧ Nets 94, Suns 91
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