Lakers at Thunder
Kobe Bryant will play the final road game of his NBA career when the Los Angeles Lakers visit the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday. Bryant’s final home game in the season finale on Wednesday figures to be the most emotional game of the season, but saying goodbye to one more group of opposing fans and fellow All-Stars like Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook will be a treat as well.
The Lakers are enduring the worst season in franchise history but Bryant is still providing plenty of highlights and went for 35 points in Sunday’s 130-110 loss at Houston. "I'm eternally optimistic," Bryant told reporters of the outburst. "I think the jump shot was falling. The legs felt good. And then you have nights like this. But it wouldn't be something that surprised me." The Thunder are locked into the No. 3 spot in the West and have been tuning up for the payoffs over the last few weeks. Kevin Durant, Serge Ibaka and Russell Westbrook returned to the lineup on Saturday after getting a game off to rest and Durant (31 points) scored at least 20 for the 63rd straight time, tying Bryant’s NBA record.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, TWC SportsNet (Los Angeles), FSN Oklahoma
ABOUT THE LAKERS (16-64): Bryant was 12-of-46 from the floor in the three previous games before going 10-of-22 against the Rockets. “What can you say? The man was unbelievable at times," Los Angeles coach Byron Scott told reporters. “Sometimes you just sit there and marvel the way he is able to play this game at a high level after 20 years of basketball. Single-handedly, along with (Jordan Clarkson), he kept us in the game.” Bryant and the Lakers will play their final game at home on Wednesday against Utah.
ABOUT THE THUNDER (54-26): The return of Westbrook and Durant did not guarantee Oklahoma City a win on Saturday, and it ended up falling 114-112 at Sacramento. Sitting the key players in Portland on the second night of a back-to-back Wednesday doubled as a strategic move for the Thunder, who could wind up facing the Trail Blazers in the first round of the playoffs. Oklahoma City could choose to rest players again on Tuesday when it closes out the regular season at potential second-round opponent San Antonio.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Westbrook and Durant combined for 13 of the Thunder’s 21 turnovers on Saturday.
2. Clarkson is averaging 23.5 points in the last two games and has scored in double figures in seven straight.
3. Oklahoma City took the first three meetings with Los Angeles by an average of 26.3 points.