Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Utah Jazz going down to the Oklahoma City Thunder a win against the soon-to-be New Orleans Pelicans was not only necessary but expected.

But as we know nothing goes according to script for the best drama this side of Hollywood.

This one got way too tense until a dormant Mamba got intense.

After mirroring the Lakers by being invisible for most of the first three quarters Kobe Bryant came to life in a fantastic fourth that willed the Lakers to victory saving embarrassment in what could have been a crushing blow to the playoff chances.

Bryant scored 10 straight at one point pulling the Lakers from behind and into a somewhat comfortable position late. Naturally there were still moments of madness like Dwight Howard forgetting to inbound the ball before stepping on the court. But not even those types of terrible mistakes could make this anything but a Laker W as Bryant scored an unreal 23 of his 30 points in the final frame.

Even more amazing was Kobe needed only 18 shots to get his as the greatness of the game’s best was on full display in another crucial situation. KB24 lives for these moments and you get the feeling he’s enjoying the challenge of playing must win games from here out.

Hopefully the intensity Bryant and the Lakers displayed late will be there early against Portland tomorrow. For a team that hasn’t won the second end of a back-to-back all season facing another must win is not ideal but it is what it is.

Kobe played a scoreless first quarter on Friday before sitting out the rest of the Lakers’ gutsy road win over the Pacers.

With the season in the balance and the Lakers’ playoff hopes still up in the air there is plenty of reason for Bryant to play through the pain. However given the severity of the injury and the likelihood of the Lakers making an early playoff exit it would appear almost fruitless for Kobe to rush back into action.

But such is the nature of one of the greatest competitors the game has ever known. Simply put, if Kobe has a pulse he’s going to play.