Lakers Win, Kobe Passes MJ’s Career Scoring Record

It’s hard to match the energy of the last Spurs game.  Both teams started out flat.  The first quarter started slow for both teams with five combined turnovers within the first three minutes of play.  Things started to come together for the Lakers when Ronnie Price forced back-to-back steals against Zach LaVine.  The Lakers were able to get into transition and draw fouls. Andrew Wiggins was more aggressive during the first quarter, especially against Kobe Bryant.  He isolated against Bryant in the post twice, drawing a shooting foul the first time, then spinning on Bryant for a lay up the second time.  Kobe finished with four points at the end of the first quarter, two from the free throw line and one hanging 5′ shot across the lane.  

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The Lakers finished the first with a 12-1 run and took control of the first quarter with a 22-19 lead.

Carlos Boozer started out aggressive in the second quarter and it paid off.  After hitting a fadeaway mid-range jumper, he drew another And-1 from midrange as well.  Halfway through the second quarter, he shot 4 of 6 from the field with 5 rebounds in just 10 minutes of play.  Wiggins continued to work the post and had 10 points on just 3 of 5 from the field.  Once Kobe got substituted back in during the second quarter, he popped and nailed a three pointer right off the bat.  That put his scoring total a point away from a tie with Michael Jordan.

He tried to set up along the baseline for a fadeaway jumper, but missed the shot.  On the next possession, he attacked the basket along the same baseline and drew a foul.  He hit both free throws to break Michael Jordan’s career scoring total.

The Timberwolves continued to work Bryant on the defensive end.  Shabazz Muhammed and Andrew Wiggins were both successful at scoring against Bryant on the block.  Despite that, the Lakers extended their lead at the half, 49-44. Ronnie Price played tight against Zach LaVine.  Outside of a couple highlight dunks in transition, LaVine struggled to get off good shots or get by Price.

Late in the third quarter, the Timberwolves spurred on a 12-4 run to close the quarter.  Nick Young and Kobe Bryant struggled to get their shot going, while Shabazz Mohammed led both teams in scoring with 25 points in 22 minutes on 11 of 18 from the field.  The Wolves cut the lead down to 2 points; 71-69.

Into the fourth quarter, the Wolves put on a bit of a run.  Kobe continued to struggle from the field, shooting 6 of 18 with two minutes to go.  He hit a three-pointer and another floater in the paint to keep the Lakers alive, taking the lead to three points; 94-92.

However, he finished with 10 points in the fourth, including a clutch three-pointer with a minute to go to give the Lakers a three-point lead.  They never looked back.

It’s just another day for Kobe Bryant.  He may be cold from the field, but he came through late to seal the win.