From http://www.nba.com
L.A. Lakers 115, Golden State 113
LOS ANGELES, March 25 (AP) -- Kobe Bryant's 50-point streak is over. But the Los Angeles Lakers' season-high winning streak lives on.
Bryant scored 17 points in the first nine minutes Sunday night, but cooled off after that and finished with 43 in the Lakers' fifth straight victory, a 115-113 triumph over the Golden State Warriors.
Bryant had scored at least 50 points in four straight games to become the second player in NBA history with such a streak, joining the late Wilt Chamberlain.
Chamberlain scored 50 or more in a record seven straight games in December 1961. He also had a five-game streak and three four-game streaks during the 1961-62 season, when he averaged a record 50.4 points.
Lamar Odom had 24 points and 19 rebounds to match his career high, and Smush Parker scored 13 points for the Lakers (38-32), who won their fifth straight and eighth in a row over the Warriors.
Monta Ellis matched his career high with 31 points to lead the Warriors (33-38), who lost for just the third time in 11 games. Al Harrington added 23 points, Stephen Jackson scored 16, and Andris Biedrins had 13 points and 12 rebounds for Golden State.
Bryant shot 15-of-33 from the floor and 9-of-11 from the foul line. He also had nine rebounds and no assists. He had seven of the Lakers' season-high 25 turnovers.
Bryant began his 50-point streak on March 16, scoring an NBA season-high 65 points in an overtime victory over Minnesota. He kept it going against Portland (50), Memphis (60) and New Orleans/Oklahoma City (50).
"It's kind of exciting, he's on such a roll,'' Golden State coach Don Nelson before the game. "It's good for basketball, it's good for the league. I'm not sure it's good for the Warriors tonight.''
Bryant has scored 50 or more points 18 times in his career to rank third on the NBA list. Chamberlain had 118 games of 50 or more points, and Michael Jordan accomplished the feat on 31 occasions.
Bryant began his streak following his team's seven-game losing streak - the longest of coach Phil Jackson's career as a head coach.
A 3-pointer by Baron Davis with 27.1 seconds to play drew the Warriors within one point, but a foul shot by Bryant and two more by Odom made it 114-110 with 18 seconds to go.
Jackson's 3-pointer with 1.9 seconds remaining made it a one-point game again. Bryant made a free throw one second later, but missed the second. The Warriors got the rebound and called timeout with six-tenths of a second left. Harrington took the inbounds pass and tried a 3-pointer that missed, but it came after the final buzzer.
The Warriors scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter for a 95-85 lead. It was 98-90 when Bryant made a 3-pointer and a long jumper, giving him 36 points and triggering a 14-0 run that gave the Lakers a six-point lead with 5:05 left. They were on top the rest of the way.
The Warriors never led until a 13-1 run put them ahead 78-71 midway through the third quarter. Bryant had only one point in the period before converting a four-point play with 3:34 left, giving him 26 in the game and trimming Golden State's lead to 80-79.
"Give me 50, Kob,'' a fan yelled a few minutes later during a lull.
Bryant had 31 points entering the fourth quarter, and the Warriors had an 88-85 lead.
Bryant came out firing, making his first four shots for nine points in the opening 2:04 as the Lakers took a 12-2 lead. He went 7-of-14 for 17 points in the first quarter, which ended with Los Angeles leading 35-25. His teammates shot 7-of-9 in the period.
The second quarter was a much different story, as Bryant shot 2-of-4 for four points to raise his total to 21 at halftime. The Lakers led 48-29 before the Warriors rallied to move within four points at the break.
My Personal Comments
Although I'm in no position to talk about Kobe with regards of his basketball skills, but I personally think that he's seriously SOLO. Look at the stats I highlighted on top. NO ASSISTS.
He's just trying. He might have a few big games but thankfully Lakers didn't lose on this one. Look at how close it's been.
He went 7-of-14 for 17 points in the first quarter, which ended with Los Angeles leading 35-25. His teammates shot 7-of-9 in the period. He shot more then his whole team on the floor and made just the same points!
We have to see what Kobe is up to next season, if he needs to prove it, he has to do it fast.
