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 Forward Paul George scored 39 points and made some crucial free
throws with the game on the line, and the Indiana Pacers held on for
a 107-103 victory over the Lakers on Sunday night at Staples Center.
Guard Monta Ellis added 15 points as the Pacers (11-5) won their
sixth straight.
Bryant was the center of attention, announcing hours before tipoff
that he will retire at season's end. The revelation on the Players'
Tribune website didn't prevent the 37-year-old veteran from putting
up another dismal shooting exhibition. He scored 13 points on
4-for-20 shooting in more than 33 minutes.
"If I had a burning desire to continue to play, I would," Bryant
said to a packed room of media after the game. "I wouldn't be
second-guessing, I wouldn't be on the fence. I feel very solid in my
decision."
Bryant was 2-for-9 from behind the 3-point stripe. In 16 games,
Bryant has a .305 field-goal percentage, .202 on 3-point shooting.
"Every time he touched the ball, every time he checked in, the place
exploded like it was Game 7 of the Finals," Indiana coach Frank
Vogel said. "You can look at this on the whole and say that this is
a team with a bad record we should come in and beat. I thought we
came in with the right mindset, the right focus. Got a big lead and
overcome a lot of circumstances to get a tough win."
George made 10 of 12 foul shots in the fourth quarter, the most
crucial one coming with 5.1 seconds remaining for the final margin.
Overall, George hit 14 of 17 free throws and 10 of 21 shots from the
floor. He also was successful on five of 10 3-point tries.
Guards Nick Young and Jordan Clarkson scored 22 points each to pace
the Lakers, who lost their six consecutive contest and fell to 1-6
at home. Young connected on six of his 14 3-point attempts. Clarkson
had a career-high 10 rebounds.
Los Angeles (2-14) made a late run, cutting the deficit to four on a
bucket inside by forward Julius Randle, who finished with 11 points
and 12 rebounds, with 3:41 left. However, two free throws by George
pushed the Pacers' lead to 100-92 with 1:07 remaining. A 3-pointer
by Young and another one by forward Metta World Peace sliced the
deficit to 100-98 with 23.6 seconds left.
George hit two more foul shots with 22.1 seconds remaining, pushing
the lead to four. After Clarkson scored on a basket in the lane,
George made two free throws with 14.4 seconds left to make it
104-100.
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Bryant, though, nailed a 3-pointer with 12 seconds remaining briefly
sending the Staples crowd into a frenzy and pulling Los Angeles with
one, but George converted another pair of free throws with 10.5
seconds remaining for a three-point advantage. Bryant followed by
airballing a 3-pointer with seven seconds left.
"It was a crazy day," Lakers coach Byron Scott said. "I obviously
thought a lot about (Bryant) leading up to the game because I knew
what he was going to do as far as announcements. ... We didn't get
off to the best of starts, and the first quarter was pretty bad for
us."
The Pacers burst out to a 28-12 cushion after one quarter and 48-35
at the break.
Lakers center Roy Hibbert faced his former club for the first time
since being traded by the Pacers. He finished with eight points and
nine rebounds.
However, Bryant overshadowed Hibbert's meeting with the Pacers.
"It's a natural progression of growth," Bryant said of his imminent
retirement. "There's no sadness in that. I've had so many great
times. I'm not sad about it. I'm appreciative of what I've had."
NOTES: Lakers coach Byron Scott said he was saddened when G/F Kobe
Bryant informed him Saturday night he would retire at season's end.
"It's always hard when greatness like Kobe decides to hang it up,"
said Scott during his pregame media session. Scott refused to
divulge many of the details of the conversation between the two but
said he was surprised Bryant was retiring. "He just told me at an
awkward time," Scott said without elaborating. "It just caught me
off-guard." ... The Lakers will visit the 0-18 Philadelphia 76ers on
Tuesday. A loss by the 76ers would give them the worst start in NBA
history. ... The Pacers will spend a few extra days in Los Angeles
before playing the Clippers on Wednesday.
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