Game Grades: Los Angeles Lakers rally to beat Kings
By Jacob Rude
84. 98. 20. Final. 95
MVP: Kobe Bryant. Bar none. Bryant took over in the second half and finished with a game-high 32 points with 6 assists and 3 rebounds. His clutch baskets down the stretch, though, is what sealed the Lakers victory.
LVP: Jeremy Lin and Ronnie Price. I could have just left my LVP description up from last game. The two combined for 5 points on 2-10 shooting, meaning they are 4 of 19 from the field since having the roles switched. Their play was so bad that
Stat of the Night: 24-37. The Kings shooting from the free throw line, highlighted by a 2-8 performance from Darren Collison, an 80% free throw shooter on the year. In a three-point game, those missed free throws were the difference.
The Starters
A. <strong> 36 min, 11-27 FG, 2-6 3P, 8-8 FT, 32 PTS, 3 REB, 6 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 3 TO</strong><p>The most impressive part of Kobe’s night? 8 for 8 from the line, including many big ones down the stretch. Hopefully he has his free throw woes solved.</p>. SG. Los Angeles Lakers. KOBE BRYANT
<strong> 28 min, 3-8 FG, 0-0 FT, 6 PTS, 6 REB, 5 AST, 2 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO<br /></strong><p>Another subpar outing from <strong><a href=. C. Los Angeles Lakers. JORDAN HILL. C+
Los Angeles Lakers. RONNIE PRICE. D. <strong> 20 min, 1-5 FG, 0-3 3P, 0-0 FT, 2 PTS, 2 REB, 6 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO</strong><p><strong><a href=. PG
C+. <strong> 26 min, 3-11 FG, 2-5 3P, 2-2 FT, 10 PTS, 7 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 2 BLK, 0 TO</strong><p>This is pretty much the stat line you can expect out of <strong><a href=. SF. Los Angeles Lakers. WESLEY JOHNSON
B+. <strong> 26 min, 5-5 FG, 1-4 FT, 11 PTS, 6 REB, 2 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO</strong><p>Contrary to Lin, Price, and <strong><a href=. PF. Los Angeles Lakers. ED DAVIS
The Bench
NICK YOUNG. C-. <strong> 22 min, 5-13 FG, 1-5 3P, 1-1 FT, 12 PTS, 4 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO</strong><p>We got our first four-point play from <strong><a href=. SG. Los Angeles Lakers
D-. <strong> 22 min, 1-5 FG, 0-3 3PT, 1-2 FT, 3 PTS, 1 REB, 4 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO</strong><p>Lin is doing the opposite of what needs to be done to prove he belongs in the starting line-up again.</p>. PG. Los Angeles Lakers. JEREMY LIN
ROBERT SACRE. D+. <strong> 14 min, 2-3 FG, 0-0 FT, 4 PTS, 4 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 0 TO</strong><p>Hard to say anything else about <strong><a href=. C. Los Angeles Lakers
SG. Los Angeles Lakers. WAYNE ELLINGTON. B. <strong> 18 min, 1-6 FG, 0-3 3P, 1-2 FT, 3 PTS, 3 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 0 TO</strong><p>Despite tonight’s rough start, I’d rather see <strong><a href=
Los Angeles Lakers. CARLOS BOOZER. C+. <strong> 28 min, 6-13 FG, 3-6 FT, 15 PTS, 9 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO</strong><p>Boozer did well to respond following his frustration with being benched, but Davis is still the better option</p>. C