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**Anima** · 03-12-2005, 06:24 PM

Lakers win, nice try for the Cats though.

**Charlotte_______** · 03-12-2005, 06:24 PM

What do you know, another close game lost. Great game for Okafor and Knight.

Tersk · 03-12-2005, 06:29 PM

Lakers win

. Kobe really had a big second half/last quarter

Emeka Okafor with a career/franchise

Bobcats with (probably) a franchise high 116 points

5 Bobcats in double figures
Matt Carroll: 12 in 8
Melvin Ely: 12 in 18
Brevin Knight: 21 in 33
Keith Bogans: 13 in 26
Emeka Okafor: 30 in 38

Real tough loss, we were winning for a good part of the match

Drewbs · 03-12-2005, 08:54 PM

This is the problem when you don't have a consistent scoring option to go to towards the end of games.

Tersk · 03-12-2005, 10:19 PM

SI.com Recap

Quote:

In the end, Kobe Bryant was able to overcome rookie Emeka Okafor and Brevin Knight .

Bryant put an exclamation point on a huge fourth quarter by draining a fadeaway jumper with nine-tenths of a second remaining as the Los Angeles Lakers rallied for a 117-116 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats .

One of the NBA's best clutch players with a history of making big shots when the game is on the line, Bryant took an inbounds just above the circle, used a pump fake to get Keith Bogans in the air and drilled the winning shot.

"They may seem impossible to you, but I feel like if I raise up and get a good look, it's a good shot," Bryant said. "When you get a rhythm and the pressure comes, I feel like the basket even gets wider. It's just one of those things. It's a lot easier to make a shot when the pressure is on than it is in the first quarter sometimes."

Bryant's heroics did not shock Lakers coach Frank Hamblen.

"This is the sixth year I've been with (Kobe) and it doesn't surprise me anymore," Hamblen said. "I was with another very similar guy in Chicago ( Michael Jordan )."

Bryant scored 21 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter, helping the Lakers rally from a double-digit deficit. The superstar made 8-of-12 shots in the final period.

"It was time to take over the game," Bryant said. "There are certain times during the season where I'm just going to have to take it over and tonight was one of them."

"Kobe had been going the whole quarter," Lakers guard Chucky Atkins said. "Why wouldn't you? You either win or lose with him. He made some tough shots I didn't even think were going in. He pretty much willed us to victory today."

Knight and Bryant were whistled for double technical fouls late in the fourth quarter after getting tangled up on a screen.

"It was just one of those games where I felt I'd get into a rhythm," Bryant said. "In fact, one of those guys who was sitting courtside at the beginning of the fourth quarter said 'Kobe, 11 points, we're shutting you down.' I just looked at him and said 'Dude, I'm about to get going.' Brevin Knight helped me out, too. He got me going."

Led by Bryant, the Lakers shot 62 percent (13-of-21) in the fourth quarter, including connecting on 6-of-11 3-pointers.

A driving layup by Matt Carroll , who scored 12 points in eight minutes off the bench, gave the Bobcats a 100-90 lead with 7:32 remaining.

But Bryant scored the Lakers' next nine points in just over two minutes, pulling them within 103-99 with 5:29 to go.

Knight attempted to answer Bryant, making a jumper and two free throws with 1:24 to play for a 116-111 advantage.

Bryant scored inside with 1:10 to go and Jumaine Jones had a follow shot with 32 seconds left. Jason Hart missed a jumper on the other end, setting the stage for Bryant's heroics.

Atkins added 26 points for the Lakers, who improved to 2-0 on a six-game road trip. They overcame a 12-point deficit in Thursday's 100-95 victory over Dallas and a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit in this one en route to winning consecutive games on the road for the first time this season.

"I told them before the game that we hadn't won two games in a row yet on the road and that for a playoff team, that has to stop," Hamblen said. "We simply must get better defensively. Now, don't get me wrong - I'm happy with the win, but it was kind of like a shootout at the OK Corral."

Okafor, the second pick in June's draft, enjoyed his best night as a professional with a franchise-record 30 points and 11 rebounds.

Returning to the lineup after missing three games with a sprained ankle, Knight added 21 and 17 assists without committing a turnover, but missed a desperation 3-pointer as time expired.

"I though we played well," Knight said. "We had a couple of uncontested threes that they shot that really hurt us. That's just a matter of understanding the time situation and knowing what (Bryant's) strengths are and force them to do something they don't want to do."

The Bobcats narrowly failed in their bid to knock off both teams that reached the NBA Finals last season. They posted a 91-89 victory over NBA champion Detroit here on November 23.

"That was a heck of a basketball game," Charlotte coach Bernie Bickerstaff said. "I thought both teams played exceptionally well. What a terrific effort after coming off of last night and coming in with the Lakers waiting on you. Some of the shots that guy ( Kobe Bryant ) made were just unbelievable."

It marked the Bobcats' 11th loss this season by three points or less. Only the Los Angeles Clippers have lost more with 12.

"It's just more of the story of the Bobcats," Okafor said. "The saga continues. We played hard and were right there for the whole game and it slips out of our hand."

Both teams shot just under 55 percent. Los Angeles made 43-of-79 shots, including 14-of-28 from the arc. Charlotte went 45-of-83 but made just 3-of-9 from the arc.