KOBE'S ARC DE TRIUMPHE BRYANT SETS MARK WITH 12 3-POINTERS LAKERS 119, SEATTLE 98.Byline: Howard Beck Staff Writer The team that couldn't shoot straight - so inept that Shaquille O'Neal Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal (pronounced "shak-KEEL") (born March 6, 1972 in Newark, New Jersey), frequently referred to simply as Shaq, is an American professional basketball player, generally regarded as one of the most dominant in the National Basketball Association (NBA). harrumphed about it and coach Phil Jackson
Philip Douglas "Phil" Jackson (born September 17, 1945 in Deer Lodge, Montana) is the current coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, an American professional basketball team. moaned about it, while the rest of them gritted their teeth through it - suddenly discovered a new touch, and a new weapon and found a strange comfort the farther everyone got from the basket. 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. spearheaded the effort, and Rick Fox followed suit. Bryant pumped up the Staples Center This article has multiple issues: * Its neutrality is disputed. * It may contain original research or unverifiable claims. * It does not cite any references or sources. crowd, and Derek Fisher Derek Lamar Fisher (born August 9 1974 in Little Rock, Arkansas) is an American professional basketball player with the Los Angeles Lakers. He was with the Utah Jazz but asked to be released from his contract to care for his 10-month-old daughter, who has cancer. joined the effort, and when it was all over even the slumping Devean George Devean Jamar George (born August 29 1977 in Minneapolis, Minnesota) is an American professional basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA. He typically plays small forward but because of his athleticism and defensive activity, can defend many shooting guards as well. had become Mark Price-like. The Lakers danced with the 3-pointer Tuesday night, mastered it, set a bunch of records with it and eventually drowned the Seattle SuperSonics The Seattle SuperSonics (or simply Sonics) are an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington. They play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Their mascot's name is Squatch. with it. Bryant made a dozen 3-pointers to break the NBA NBA abbr. 1. National Basketball Association 2. National Boxing Association NBA (US) n abbr (= National Basketball Association) → Basketball-Dachverband (= single-game record and lead the Lakers to a 119-98 rout in front of an exhilarated ex·hil·a·rate tr.v. ex·hil·a·rat·ed, ex·hil·a·rat·ing, ex·hil·a·rates 1. To cause to feel happily refreshed and energetic; elate: We were exhilarated by the cool, pine-scented air. 18,997 in downtown L.A. Bryant, who finished with 45 points, broke the record of 11, held by O'Neal's friend and former Orlando teammate Dennis Scott Dennis Scott may refer to:
He also broke the NBA mark for consecutive 3-pointers without a miss, hitting nine in a row over the second and third quarters. The prior record of eight in a row was held by Steve Smith, Jeff Hornacek Jeffrey John Hornacek (IPA: /ˈhɔrnəsɛk/); (born May 3 1963 in Elmhurst, Illinois) is a retired American basketball player who played at the shooting guard position in the NBA from 1986–2000. and Sam Perkins. That was all incredible enough. More incredible was that Bryant has never been a strong 3-point shooter and had converted just 26 of 92 (.283) before Tuesday's game. He had just endured a streak of nine consecutive 3-point misses, including an 0-for-8 night Saturday at Phoenix. On Tuesday, he was 12 for 18 from behind the arc, 16 for 28 overall. Bryant's teammates combined to make five more 3-pointers, breaking the franchise single-game record of 15. The Lakers fell two 3-pointers shy of the NBA record of 19. For good measure, the Lakers also set a season high in points. Just three nights earlier, in a loss at Phoenix, the Lakers missed 19 of 21 attempts from the arc, prompting O'Neal to grumble about it as he moved past reporters. Bryant's record was noted by public-address announcer Lawrence Tanter with 2:21 left in the game, and the center scoreboard showed Bryant on the bench, flashing a huge smile. He waved to the appreciative fans, and a teammate playfully tossed a towel at his head. Bryant's eighth 3-pointer came early in the third quarter, giving the Lakers a 73-55 lead and forcing an exasperated coach Nate McMillan to call timeout. Bryant grinned, spread his arms out like wings and soared back to the bench. Bryant missed his first 3-point attempt of the night, in the first quarter, before converting six consecutive 3s in the second as the Lakers opened as much as a 17-point lead. They held a 37-32 advantage before Bryant caught fire. He hit his first two 3-pointers on kickouts from O'Neal, and as the momentum built, so did the anticipation of more. You could see it in Bryant's eyes and hear it in the crescendo of the crowd. If the ball landed in Bryant's hands near the arc, it was going to fly. The fourth and fifth 3-pointers came in rapid succession, pushing the lead to 13 points, and was followed by another 3 from Fox. On the bench, Jackson sat unmoved, expressionless, almost disapproving, while assistant coach Frank Hamblen chuckled at him. But Bryant's teammates wouldn't mess with a good thing. Brian Shaw charged down the court on the fast break, turned around and dished dished adj. 1. Concave. 2. Slanting toward one another at the bottom. Used of a pair of wheels. Adj. 1. dished - shaped like a dish or pan dish-shaped, patelliform concave - curving inward it back to Bryant at the arc for the sixth and final 3-pointer, giving the Lakers a 60-43 lead. The victory was the Lakers' fourth in the last five games. At 15-20, they are within five games of .500 for the first time since Dec. 15. And for the first time all season, they appear headed in the right direction. HOT SHOT Kobe Bryant's 12 3-point baskets is an NBA single-game record. He made nine in a row, also a league record. The most 3-point baskets in a game: No. Player Year 12 Kobe Bryant 02-03 11 Dennis Scott 95-96 10 Brian Shaw 92-93 10 Joe Dumars 94-95 10 George McCloud 95-96 Many tied with 9 each Note: Shaw, now with the Lakers, played with Miami when he made 10 3-pointers. CAPTION(S): 2 photos, box Photo: (1 -- color) For Kobe Bryant, this was a familiar pose as he made an NBA-record 12 3-pointers. (2) Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, exulting after scoring in the first half, was just getting started. Charlotte Schmid-Maybach/Staff Photographer Box: HOT SHOT (see text) |
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