Finally! Sixers beat Lakers to end losing skid
PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia 76ers said farewell to Kobe Bryant, the Los Angeles Lakers' retiring star, and hello to their first victory of the season on Tuesday night.
Forward Robert Covington scored 23 points and forward Jerami Grant contributed 14 points, seven rebounds, four assists and four blocked shots as the Sixers (1-18) beat the Lakers, 103-91.
Center/forward Nerlens Noel also scored 14 points for the Sixers, who fell one defeat short of the worst start in NBA history. They share that record with the 2009-10 New Jersey Nets, who also dropped their first 18 games. Philadelphia also ended a 28-game losing streak, longest in the history of the four major North American sports.
The Sixers, who had last won on March 25 at Denver, went on a run late in the third quarter to erase a 75-74 deficit and go in front for good, 94-80, with 7:20 left in the game. Noel keyed the run with six points, and Grant had four.
The 37-year-old Bryant, who announced Sunday that he will retire at the end of this season, scored 20 to lead the Lakers, who at 2-15 are the NBA's second-worst team. They have dropped seven in a row, and 11 of 12.
Guard Jordan Clarkson added 19 points for the Lakers.
Bryant made three of his first four shots -- all of them 3-pointers -- but finished seven-of-26 from the floor.
He was accorded a standing ovation when he took the court for warm-ups, and again when he was introduced. The Sixers also gave him a video tribute, and retired star Julius Erving joined Gregg Downer, Bryant's coach at Lower Merion High School, in presenting Bryant with a framed jersey from his prep years.
He hit a 3-pointer 11 seconds into the game, another on the Lakers' second possession and a third their next time down the court. In all, he scored 13 points in the game's first 7:33, 16 in the first half.
Forward Julius Randle added 10 points and guard Lou Williams, an ex-Sixer, added nine in the two quarters as Los Angeles took a 58-50 lead.
Covington had 11 to pace the Sixers.
Philadelphia, which trailed by as many as 14 points in the first half, opened the third quarter with a 19-7 rush to go in front, 69-65.
The Lakers clawed back in front behind Clarkson, who had 12 points in the period, but the Sixers notched the last six points of the period on two free throws by two free throws and a dunk by Noel, as well as a jam by Grant.
NOTES: Lakers C Roy Hibbert, Sixers G JaKarr Sampson and Philadelphia F Jerami Grant were all assessed technical fouls after a shoving match with 6:54 left in the third quarter, which began with Sixers G Isaiah Canaan fouling Hibbert. ... Sixers coach Brett Brown was asked before the game if rookie C Jahlil Okafor, who has been involved in three off-court incidents so far this season, will now have a bodyguard with him, as has been reported. "I believe so," Brown said. "All of this stuff right now is still fluid." ... Brown also said the team has gone to great lengths to educate its young players about the pitfalls that await them outside the arena. "The layers around Jahlil have been solid," Brown said. "But this has happened, so we're all under the microscope. We'll be better because of it." ... Philadelphia C-F Nerlens Noel returned after missing the two previous games with a sore right knee. ... Lakers G Lou Williams returned after missing the two previous games following the death of his grandfather.