Game Grades: Lakers Soar Behind Bryant’s Triple-Double
By Jacob Rude
Final. 103. 73. 111. 20
MVP: This is as easy a choice as you’ll get. Kobe Bryant‘s triple-double was a Huge reason why the Lakers won despite blowing a 23-point lead. Bryant looks rejuvenated after his week of rest.
LVP: Really, the only Lakers to look bad tonight were Nick Young and Jeremy Lin, so they can share this award.
Stat of the Night: 14 three-pointers, which was a big factor in the win. Surprisingly, Ronnie Price led the way with five of them and Wesley Johnson had four.
The Starters
Los Angeles Lakers. KOBE BRYANT. A. <strong> 31 min, 6-11 FG, 3-5 3P, 8-11 FT, 23 PTS, 11 REB, 11 AST, 2 STL, 1 BLK, 9 TO</strong><p>Bryant doesn’t get an “A+” rating because of the nine turnovers, but he was lethal with the ball tonight.</p>. SG
<strong> 23 min, 6-9 FG, 0-0 FT, 12 PTS, 5 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 0 TO</strong><p><strong><a href=. C. Los Angeles Lakers. JORDAN HILL. B-
PG. Los Angeles Lakers. RONNIE PRICE. A. <strong> 33 min, 6-10 FG, 5-6 3P, 1-2 FT, 18 PTS, 3 REB, 4 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 3 TO</strong><p>Career night, being Mr. Price. Ronnie, meet career night.</p>
SF. Los Angeles Lakers. WESLEY JOHNSON. A. <strong> 26 min, 6-10 FG, 4-7 3P, 0-0 FT, 16 PTS, 2 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO</strong><p>It’s games like these that drive you nuts, because Johnson looked like an NBA player tonight. However, in the next game, he’s just as apt to look like a D-League player.</p>
PF. Los Angeles Lakers. ED DAVIS. B-. <strong> 30 min, 2-3 FG, 3-4 FT, 7 PTS, 4 REB, 2 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 0 TO</strong><p><strong><a href=
The Bench
NICK YOUNG. F. <strong> 21 min, 2-7 FG, 0-2 3P, 0-0 FT, 4 PTS, 1 REB, 2 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO</strong><p>If not for big nights from Johnson and Price, Young and Lin’s awful nights stick out much worse.</p>. SG. Los Angeles Lakers
JEREMY LIN. F. <strong> 14 min, 1-6 FG, 0-1 3PT, 2-3 FT, 4 PTS, 2 REB, 4 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO</strong><p>Lin only saw 14 minutes thanks partly to foul troubles and partly to bad decision making, a trait that has plagued him all year.</p>. PG. Los Angeles Lakers
B-. <strong> 16 min, 3-6 FG, 2-4 3P, 0-0 FT, 8 PTS, 3 REB, 4 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO</strong><p><strong><a href=. SG. Los Angeles Lakers. WAYNE ELLINGTON
A-. <strong> 28 min, 8-14 FG, 3-6 FT, 19 PTS, 9 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO</strong><p>The best thing <strong><a href=. C. Los Angeles Lakers. CARLOS BOOZER
C-. <strong> 13 min, 0-0 FG, 0-0 FT, 0 PTS, 2 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO</strong><p>With <strong><a href=. C. Los Angeles Lakers. ROBERT SACRE