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Kobe Saves The DayBryant Nails Game-Winning JumperLOS ANGELES , 2:33 a.m. PST February 8, 2001 -- Kobe Bryant made sure that the Los Angeles Lakers entered the All-Star break on a winning note. Bryant's 15-foot jumper with 2.3 seconds remaining over the tight defense of Shawn Marion lifted the Lakers to an 85-83 victory over Phoenix on Wednesday night. Cliff Robinson missed a jumper from the top of the key as time expired. Bryant's game-winner was similar to his shot over Jason Kidd with 2.6 seconds left in a 97-96 win over the Suns in Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal playoff series last spring, a series the Lakers went on to win 4-1. Wednesday night's win was the third straight for the Lakers and raised their record to 4-2 since Shaquille O'Neal went to the sidelines Jan. 28 with a strained right foot. "We did a good job going into the break 3-0," Bryant said. "Hopefully, we can keep our momentum." A specialist who examined O'Neal said his injured foot is healing well, making it appear last season's MVP will return next week, possibly Tuesday night when the Lakers open a six-game road trip at New Jersey. "He's going to get therapy over the weekend. We'll see how he responds,'' Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "There will probably be some limitation as far as how much he plays. I think he'll do OK." The Lakers also won their final three games before the break last year, triggering a 19-game winning streak en route to their first championship in 12 years. Bryant, who scored 23 of his 32 points in the second half and also had eight rebounds, nine assists and four steals, said he was expected the Suns to double-team him on the winning shot. "But my teammates were knocking down shots all night, so they were kind of reluctant to come double," he said. That being the case, Bryant took the shot. "I'm not thinking, I have doubts, just like everyone in the crowd," he said. "You just improvise." Marion called it a great shot. "I had my hand all over his face, I almost got a piece of it, he said. "He hit it, that was that. I'll take that challenge every night if I could. I wanted the challenge." Bryant said he'd prefer to sit out Sunday's All-Star game at the MCI Center because of a sore right shoulder, but said he'll play because he doesn't want to risk being suspended. "My shoulder's real bad. A couple of those lobs didn't help at all," he said. The Suns, who trailed by as many as 16 points in the third quarter, tied the game on a 3-point shot by Tom Gugliotta with 11.5 seconds left. It was the first 3-pointer in four attempts by Gugliotta this season and his only points of the game. "I knew that," Gugliotta said when asked if he realized he hadn't made a 3-pointer, although he was 193-of-680 in his previous eight seasons. "They told me to be ready. There were a couple of other options before that. It turned out to be me." Then came the game-winning shot by Bryant, who scored 11 of the Lakers' 15 points in the fourth quarter. Ron Harper finished with 16 points, and rookie Mark Madsen had 13 for the Lakers. Robinson led the Suns with 22 points, 12 in the fourth quarter, which began with the Lakers leading 70-59. Marion had 18 points and 16 rebounds; Kidd added 14 points, six rebounds and nine assists, and Vinny Del Negro had season-high totals of 11 points and seven rebounds.
Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
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