Bryant puts hurt on aching Seattle
SEATTLE — Injured or not, bound for the playoffs or not, Kobe Bryant still can score.
The Seattle SuperSonics? They’re still waiting to claim that suddenly elusive Northwest Division title.
Bryant scored 21 of his 42 points in the fourth quarter and Caron Butler matched a season high with 31, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a 117-94 win over the playoff-bound Sonics on Friday night.
Bryant, his lower leg heavily wrapped, showed no effects of the bruised right shin that forced him to miss a game earlier this week. He shot 15 for 22 from the floor, a good comeback after his 4-for-19 effort in Thursday’s loss to Houston.
“It was actually sorer today than it was before the last game,” Bryant said.
Bryant started by dishing all five of his assists in the first quarter, then took the scoring later when it was available.
“My jump shot was falling for me pretty well,” he said. “I did a good job penetrating, getting into the gaps, and my teammates were hitting shots. When they do that, it’s very tough to guard us because you have to make a decision.”
Jumaine Jones had 13 points and 12 rebounds for the Lakers, who’ll miss the playoffs for the first time in 11 seasons. It was their second win in their last 15 games and their first road win since beating Charlotte on March 12.
“We just wanted to win,” Bryant said. “We’ve been playing so hard. We just needed to win. It doesn’t really matter what they have going on.”
Ray Allen scored 30 points for Seattle while Nick Collison tied a career high with 16 points and added 11 rebounds. But it wasn’t enough to help the injury-plagued Sonics wrap up a division title.
With this loss, the Sonics have whiffed at three straight chances to secure the division championship and the No. 3 seeding in the Western Conference playoffs that comes with it.
“The focus is to play better basketball and better defense,” Seattle coach Nate McMillan said. “We have to play better. If we do that, then we’ll take care of the other situation. We can’t be concerned about what Denver is doing.”
With Denver beating Minnesota on Friday, the Nuggets are six games back with seven remaining — still room to catch Seattle. The teams play today in Denver, the first time George Karl will face his former team since taking over the Nuggets.
Notes
The Sonics activated guard Mateen Cleaves before the game, clearing roster space by moving rookie center Robert Swift to the injured list with right knee tendinits. The Sonics had 10 players available because of injuries. Guard Antonio Daniels (left knee swelling), and forwards Rashard Lewis (bruised right foot) and Vladimir Radmanovic (stress fracture, right leg) were out. Forward Danny Fortson had been listed as doubtful, but he played 13 minutes.