Kobe Bryant showed no signs of injury as the 11-times All Star guard lit up the scoreboard for 40 points in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 106-93 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday.
Bryant, who struggled with an injured leg during the Lakers’ loss to the Houston Rockets on Sunday, posted the 100th 40-point performance of his career.
“I did therapy around the clock just trying to get as healthy as I can to be productive,” Bryant told reporters after notching 40 points for the fourth time this season.
PHOTO: REUTERS
“It’s a great feeling to think about where I started coming here at 17-years-old, to where we are today,” he said.
Will Bynum scored a team-high 24 points for the Pistons, who cut into a 25-point deficit in the fourth quarter to close the gap to 98-91 with 1:54 left in the game.
Detroit (5-6) played without injured starters Richard Hamilton (ankle) and Tayshaun Prince (back).
Last season’s champions Los Angeles had endured consecutive losses coming into the game.
Bryant, who was held below 20 points in consecutive games and was shooting just 32 percent in his last two, shook off a 1-for-6 start against Detroit and scored 13 points in the second where his team took a 57-42 halftime lead.
Bryant finished 17-for-29 from the field and added five rebounds and five assists. Andrew Bynum put up 17 points and 12 boards as the Lakers (8-3) avoided losing three in a row for the first time since Feb. 1, last year.
The Lakers are sill awaiting for the return Pau Gasol, who could be back on Thursday against the Chicago Bulls.
“I can’t wait,” said Andrew Bynum, after Gasol indicated he would decide whether to come back pending how he felt in yesterday’s practice. “Our rotation will be back to normal [when Gasol returns] and our second unit will be better.”
Offseason free agent signing Ben Gordon had 18 points for the Pistons.
In other NBA games, it was:
• Suns 111, Rockets 105
• Nuggets 130, Raptors 112
• Thunder 100, Heat 87
• Bulls 101, Kings 87
• Cavaliers 114, Warriors 108
• Hornets 110, Clippers 102
• Pacers 91, Nets 83
MARRED FINAL: As most of Senegalese players walked off the pitch after a controversial decision, some supporters threw objects and attempted to get onto the pitch Senegal on Sunday won the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as Pape Gueye’s extra-time winner sunk hosts Morocco 1-0 after a chaotic final that saw the eventual champions storm off the pitch late in the game. Brahim Diaz could have won the trophy for Morocco with a controversial spot-kick in the 24th minute of added time at the end of normal time as ugly scenes broke out in the stands. However, Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy easily saved the weak attempted “Panenka” chip by the Real Madrid winger, who was clearly distracted by the long delay that followed the penalty award.
James Harden on Friday scored 31 points and came up big in overtime to help the Los Angeles Clippers erase a double-digit deficit on the way to a 121-117 NBA victory over the Toronto Raptors. Harden scored 16 points in the fourth quarter and overtime as the Clippers pushed their wining steak to five games despite the absence of star Kawhi Leonard with a sprained right ankle. The Clippers trailed by 11 entering the fourth quarter, but Harden drilled a pair of free-throws with 1:24 left in regulation to tie it and after misses from both teams, they went to
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Tobias Harris on Monday scored 25 points as the Detroit Pistons held off the Boston Celtics to score a 104-103 victory in their top-of-the-table Eastern Conference showdown. Harris was one of four Detroit players to finish in double figures, with Jalen Duren adding 18 points and point guard Cade Cunningham scoring 16 points with 14 assists. The win sees Detroit extend their lead at the top of the Eastern Conference to 31-10, 5.5 games ahead of second-placed Boston, who fell to 26-16 with the defeat. Jaylen Brown led the Celtics scoring with 32 points and almost snatched victory in the
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