Lakers at Pelicans
Los Angeles Lakers icon Kobe Bryant just enjoyed his top outing of the
season but his shoulder is once again aching and he's questionable for
Thursday's road contest against the New Orleans Pelicans. Bryant scored 38
points and made seven 3-pointers in Tuesday's victory over the Minnesota
Timberwolves but the troublesome shoulder has flared up and his
availability will be decided at some point Thursday.
Bryant's huge game helped the Lakers snap a 10-game losing skid and coach Byron Scott was amazed at what he witnessed as Bryant scored 14 points during the final 5:02. "I appreciate the fact that he's out there competing like he has for 20 years," Scott told reporters. "His body can't do it like he used to but his mind is still as sharp as a tack. He still has that will and I marvel at that." New Orleans has lost consecutive games to Memphis and San Antonio by an average of 14 points and has dropped five games behind Portland and Utah in the battle for the final Western Conference playoff berth. The Pelicans follow the Lakers' contest with a stretch in which five of seven games are on the road, beginning with Saturday's visit to Cleveland.
TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT, TWC SportsNet (Los Angeles)
ABOUT THE LAKERS (10-41): Power forward Julius Randle had 15 points and 12 rebounds against Minnesota for his third consecutive double-double and fifth in seven games. Randle has taken advantage of a knee injury to rookie Larry Nance Jr. to move back into the starting lineup and he is averaging 14.4 points and 11.3 rebounds during the stretch. "You just have to have your niche, whatever it may be," Randle told reporters. "Just play hard regardless and that's what I try to do. I know there are certain things the team needs me to do on a nightly basis for us to have a chance, and that's what I'm trying to do."
ABOUT THE PELICANS (18-30): Power forward Anthony Davis stood out with 28 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, four steals and four blocked shots Wednesday night against the Spurs but didn't get much help from his teammates. Guard Norris Cole was the only other starter who scored in double digits as he had 14 points and nine assists while once again filling in for point guard Tyreke Evans, who missed his fourth straight game because of a knee injury. Cole has scored in double digits in seven consecutive games and is averaging 14.1 points and 6.3 assists during the stretch.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Lakers recorded a 95-91 win over the Pelicans on Jan. 12 — their last victory before Tuesday — to end a four-game skid in the series.
2. New Orleans backup SF Ryan Anderson averaged 9.5 points in the two defeats after averaging 26.3 points during the previous four contests.
3. Los Angeles rookie PG D'Angelo Russell is averaging 14 points in the past two games after experience a three-game 8-of-29 shooting funk.