Bryant shakes off arm injury, Lakers fail to close gap
ABOVE: Lamar Odom (7) covered up for
Kobe in the third quarter
18 Oct, Seattle – The Los Angeles Lakers were on the very edge of winning their first game, right up until Kobe Bryant got injured on a hard foul. With the Lakers up by 5 entering the second half, Bryant collided with Ray Allen and went straight to the change rooms for the entire third period.
By the time Bryant returned, it was too late. The Sonics took the chance to outscore LA by 12 points and take a slim lead into the final period. And even Bryant’s spectacular 20 point fourth quarter couldn’t dig his team out of their hole. Bryant finished on a modest 29 points and 6 rebounds as he shot high percentages. Lamar Odom picked up Bryant’s slack as he tried to keep LA in the game with 9 third quarter points. Odom had 27 points and 7 assists but committed 6 turnovers, mainly due to his teammates not looking out for his fast passes.
“Sometimes it’s a pain without Kobe on the court because the other guys aren’t experienced enough to expect those quick passes I make,” Odom noted, “If a man is open, I’ll throw it to them and I always expect them to see.” Aaron Mckie had his best game for the Lakers, playing well in the first half as he racked up 9 points, 4 assists and 2 steals and Kwame Brown grabbed 16 boards.
Ray Allen led the Sonics with 23 points, 7 assists and 2 steals. Seattle’s captain was flanked by Rashard Lewis’ 25 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists and Luke Ridnour’s surprising output of 24 points and 7 assists. “Luke (Ridnour) was great tonight. He dished and drove in and scored well,” Allen said of his teammate, “I can tell that he’s been working over the off-season.”
The Sonics began the game on top and cruised to the end of the first quarter before Odom and Mckie led a Lakers 12-0 run in the second period. Mckie made several flashy passes into Brown who converted most of the time whilst Odom played brilliant defense on Ridnour who was held scoreless for the quarter. However, due to Bryant’s injury, Odom was prevented from defending the point guard spot and moved back to matching up against Lewis.
The Lakers’ defense once again failed them as Seattle repeatedly drove into the paint and found themselves open for the open bucket. “It was better game tonight but we still ahd too many errors,” Phil Jackson said after the game. Kobe Bryant left the arena for the team bus smiling to reporters, “Tommorrow night, we will win.”
Notes
The Lakers play the second leg of the home and away exhibition matches at STAPLES tomorrow night… SG Kobe Bryant has been cleared from injury… F Slava Medvedenko has been taken off the IR list and will replace SF Laron Profit… Preseason Record: 0-4 (0-2, 0-2)…
Box Score
Game Images
With 11:05 left in the third, Bryant suffered a shoulder injury
Aaron Mckie played hard defence
Ray Allen went up for the finger roll
Rashard Lewis hit jumpers from all over the court
Mckie dumps it low for the Kwame Brown jam
Bryant was electrifying in the final quarter
and see how Von Wafer does in Lakers' colours
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Thanks for the favour once again Mark!
at Kayne West's pink sweater 
