| |
|
NBA -- The Black Mamba strikes again
By Jose Roberto Meza
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 20 May 2012
LOS ANGELES -- With his team down 2-0 and falling fast and furious in the ongoing Western Conference semifinals, Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant came to the rescue just in the nick of time.
The Black Mamba was spectacular Friday night, dropping 36 points to lead the Lakers past the rolling Oklahoma City Thunder, 99-96, in Game 3 of their best-of-7 showdown. The triumphant Lakers aim for the series-tying victory when both teams go at it again Saturday night at the Staples Center in dowtown Los Angeles.
Bryant didn't have a picnic shooting the ball, what with the speed, quickness and length of the Thunder defenders, but like the great ones always do, the 13-time All-Star found a way and gutted out a winning effort that also yielded seven rebounds, six assists and two steals. The only wrinkle was a pair of turnovers.
The 6-foot-6, 205-pound Bryant, drilled only 9-of-25 shots, but he was money from the free throw line -- 18-for-18. Kobe's four free throws late helped Los Angeles survive a 92-87 scare with only 2:54 left in the fourth quarter.
Prior to his Game 3 explosion, Bryant has had a quiet series against the Thunder, scoring just 20 each in Games 1 and 2 and hititing a mere 16 of 43 field goals. But now, thankfully for the purple-and-gold faithfuls, Kobe seems to have found his stride.
Suiting up in his 15th season with the Lakers, Bryant might be getting up there in age. But at 33, he is obviously far from done. (Jose Roberto Meza)
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Jose Roberto Meza.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
SUNDAY: Fabio Turchi-Milans Volkovs Cruiserweight Showdown Headlines Italy Fight Card LIVE in the U.S. on ESPN+
, Sat, 07 Jun 2025Bomogao KOs Rubio in 1st round
By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 07 Jun 2025REYES CUP SET FOR ELECTRIFYING RETURN TO MANILA, OCTOBER 16–19
, Sat, 07 Jun 2025King's Promotions June 19th Card at Wind Creek Event Center is Postponed Card Rescheduled for September 5th
, Sat, 07 Jun 2025THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 7 - AMATEUR BOXING CAREER OF MUHAMMAD ALI
By Maloney L. Samaco, , Fri, 06 Jun 2025Indiana, Haliburton Do It Again, Pacers Shock OKC on the Road, 111-110
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Fri, 06 Jun 2025STAR BOXING PRESENTS SPECIAL PRESS CONFERENCE-MONDAY
, Fri, 06 Jun 2025Undefeated Super Bantamweight Chavez Barrientes Returns June 7th Against Sharone Carter on Most Valuable Prospects 13 Card
, Fri, 06 Jun 2025Vasiliy Lomachenko Announces Retirement: A Glorious Chapter Closes in Boxing History
By Dong Secuya, , Fri, 06 Jun 2025“HALL OF FAME FIGHT NIGHT” OFFICIAL WEIGHTS AND QUOTES
, Fri, 06 Jun 2025Press Conference Notes: Keyshawn Davis Returns Home for Inaugural World Title Defense at Norfolk’s Scope Arena
, Fri, 06 Jun 2025DAZN PRESENTS NEW NO DAYS OFF EPISODE HIGHLIGHTING REIGNING UNIFIED SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION FRANCHÓN CREWS-DEZURN
, Fri, 06 Jun 2025ANTONIO VARGAS PENS CO-PROMOTIONAL DEAL WITH MATCHROOM AND BOXLAB
, Fri, 06 Jun 2025Antimaro, Jimenez to fight in Japan on June 7
By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 05 Jun 2025Keyshawn Davis vs. Edwin De Los Santos Fight Week Events to Stream LIVE on Top Rank’s Social Media Channels
, Thu, 05 Jun 2025“Prospects Collide” Full Card Announced
, Thu, 05 Jun 2025Correa Set for High-Stakes Bantamweight Showdown vs. Undefeated Michael Angeletti on ProBox TV
, Thu, 05 Jun 2025Kansas Athletic Commission overturns ‘No Contest’ to TKO win for undefeated Super middleweight prospect Marco Romero
, Thu, 05 Jun 20252nd JCI Senate Lipa Chess Festival set
By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 05 Jun 2025RING III: TICKETS ON SALE NOW FOR THRILLING JULY 12 NEW YORK DOUBLE HEADER FEATURING STEVENSON-ZEPEDA AND BERLANGA-SHEERAZ
, Thu, 05 Jun 2025Unbeaten Middleweight Sebastian Juarez Faces Power-Punching Shaquille Cameron on Most Valuable Prospects 13, Live on DAZN
, Thu, 05 Jun 2025IIEE National Chess Olympiad
By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 05 Jun 2025Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimàn: Mental Health & Mental Wellness
By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Wed, 04 Jun 2025Inaugural AFBC Normalisation Committee meeting sets vision for strategic reforms and collaboration
, Wed, 04 Jun 2025PACQUIAO AT L.A. PRESSCON: "I'M BACK!"
By Dong Secuya, , Wed, 04 Jun 2025 |
|
|
|
|
|
