CUSHION SOFTENS FALL LAKERS LEAD NEARLY GOES TO WASTE LAKERS 96, NEW OLREANS 82.Byline: Ross Siler Staff Writer NEW ORLEANS New Orleans (ôr`lēənz –lənz, ôrlēnz`), city (2006 pop. 187,525), coextensive with Orleans parish, SE La., between the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain, 107 mi (172 km) by water from the river mouth; founded - From outside the Lakers' huddle, Kobe Bryant Kobe Bean Bryant (born July 23 1978) is an American All-Star shooting guard in the National Basketball Association (NBA) who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. could do little but peer over the shoulders of assistant coaches Larry Smith
Tomjanovich was born to an American family of Croatian descent. diagraming plays that had nothing to do with him. The Lakers were on the verge On the Verge (or The Geography of Yearning) is a play written by Eric Overmyer. It makes extensive use of esoteric language and pop culture references from the late nineteenth century to 1955. of a stunning collapse in the fourth quarter Tuesday night against the New Orleans Hornets The New Orleans Hornets are a professional basketball team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They play in the Southwest Division of the National Basketball Association (NBA). , left with the remnants of what had been a 33-point third-quarter lead, and Bryant reduced to a bystander by·stand·er n. A person who is present at an event without participating in it. bystander Noun a person present but not involved; onlooker; spectator Noun 1. as his team struggled to stay in the control. Sent to the bench after being assessed his sixth foul with 3 minutes, 40 seconds remaining - a charge taken by Hornets point guard Baron Davis Baron Walter Louis Davis (born April 13 1979, in Los Angeles, California) is an American professional basketball player currently starting at point guard for the NBA's Golden State Warriors. He began playing basketball at the age of five. - and the Lakers up by 14 points, Bryant only could offer words of support. So he motioned downward with his hands, signaling for calm, and tried to offer reassurance. ``Settle down,'' Bryant said. ``We're all right. Just keep moving the ball.'' With that, the Lakers held on for a 106-98 victory in front of 17,202 at New Orleans Arena Current arenas in the National Basketball Association Western Conference Eastern Conference . ``I think it was good for us, it was good for them to get out there and play in that type of situation,'' said Bryant, who led all scorers with 31 points before fouling out of a game for the first time in three seasons. ``Guys stepped up and made big defensive stops. We were able to keep that cushion.'' Whatever the reason, the Lakers fell apart in the fourth quarter, surrendering 42 points as winless New Orleans staged a furious comeback. David Wesley For the board game designer, see David Wesely. David Barakau Wesley (born November 14, 1970, in San Antonio, Texas) is an American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association. He is currently retired and lives in Houston, TX. knocked down a 3-pointer as the Hornets made it 96-82 before Bryant was called for the charge along the sideline. It only got worse from there. The Lakers were called for their second eight-second violation of the quarter and Davis (23 points) hit a 3-pointer to bring New Orleans within 11. But Lamar Odom came up with the night's two biggest plays, hitting an off-balance jumper then blocking a Lee Nailon shot with 1:07 remaining to secure the victory. Caron Butler, who scored 23 points despite a bad left ankle, dunked ahead of the block to settle things. ``I didn't make a play all day,'' Odom said. ``I've got to wait for Kobe Bryant to foul out to make a play.'' The Lakers (3-2) opened their four-game, five-night road trip with a victory, one that came at the expense of rest for their starters. Chucky Atkins played 42 minutes, Odom logged 41 and Bryant stayed out for 38 on a night the Lakers seized control, then lost it quickly. ``You come out lax and when the momentum starts coming, it's like a boulder coming down the side of the hill,'' said Tomjanovich, who feigned feigned adj. 1. Not real; pretended: a feigned modesty. 2. Made-up; fictitious. Adj. 1. banging his head against the wall outside the Lakers locker room after the game. ``It's good to just get it in the can. When you get a learning experience that doesn't cost you an 'L,' that's great.'' Bryant fouled out for only the 13th time in his career, though he said it was the first afterward. He said the last time he fouled out was in high school, telling the tale of a senior-year game against Norristown (Pa.) that sounded the same themes of Tuesday. ``We had some crazy refs and they fouled me out of the game with like three minutes to go,'' Bryant said. ``But my guys pulled it out, we went on to the state finals, became state champions. Nice Cinderella story.'' Butler was a much-valued presence. He said he almost didn't play because of the ankle, injured two nights earlier against the Atlanta Hawks, but trainer Gary Vitti ``worked miracles'' getting him into the lineup. In the past two games, Butler has made 20 of 28 shots and scored 45 points. He was equally adept Tuesday at shooting on the move as spotting up from the left side and fast has become the Lakers' No. 2 scoring option after Bryant. Ross Siler, (818) 713-3610 ross.siler(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 3 photos, 2 boxes Photo: (1 -- color) BUTLER (2 -- color) Kobe Bryant leads a fastbreak ahead of New Orleans' J.R. Smith in the second half Tuesday night. (3) Kobe Bryant is fouled by Baron Davis, but the tables are turned later as Davis draws a charging foul that sends Bryant to the bench in the fourth quarter. Bill Haber/Associated Press Box: (1) STORY LINES (2) GAME RECAP |
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