Saturday, December 20, 2003
Kobe wins it at buzzer!
Kobe Bryant (C) of the Los Angeles Lakers flips a behind-the-back pass against Denver Nuggets' defenders Jon Barry (L) and Marcus Camby during the second quarter of their NBA game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, December 19, 2003. Bryant arrived at the game in the second quarter after returning from Eagle, Colorado, where he spent the earlier part of the day in court on sexual assault charges. REUTERS/Robert Galbraith
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- With the game tied and the ball in Kobe Bryant's hands, the Denver Nuggets knew they were in trouble.
The Nuggets erased all of a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter, but Bryant beat them with a 21-foot jumper at the buzzer, giving the Los Angeles Lakers a 101-99 victory Friday night after Bryant arrived late from a court hearing in Colorado.
"It's just greatness," Nuggets coach Jeff Bzdelik said. "We knew he would ball fake, he always does. But he made the shot. That's why he's great."
Bryant took the inbounds pass from Devean George, drove left, pump-faked defender Jon Barry off his feet and sank the winning jumper from the top of the key before falling on his rear end. He was mobbed by teammates, and the crowd that had welcomed him with a loud ovation at the start of the second quarter went wild.
¶ 12/20/2003 07:07:00 AM 
Kobe Bryant (C) of the Los Angeles Lakers flips a behind-the-back pass against Denver Nuggets' defenders Jon Barry (L) and Marcus Camby during the second quarter of their NBA game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, December 19, 2003. Bryant arrived at the game in the second quarter after returning from Eagle, Colorado, where he spent the earlier part of the day in court on sexual assault charges. REUTERS/Robert Galbraith
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- With the game tied and the ball in Kobe Bryant's hands, the Denver Nuggets knew they were in trouble.
The Nuggets erased all of a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter, but Bryant beat them with a 21-foot jumper at the buzzer, giving the Los Angeles Lakers a 101-99 victory Friday night after Bryant arrived late from a court hearing in Colorado.
"It's just greatness," Nuggets coach Jeff Bzdelik said. "We knew he would ball fake, he always does. But he made the shot. That's why he's great."
Bryant took the inbounds pass from Devean George, drove left, pump-faked defender Jon Barry off his feet and sank the winning jumper from the top of the key before falling on his rear end. He was mobbed by teammates, and the crowd that had welcomed him with a loud ovation at the start of the second quarter went wild.
¶ 12/20/2003 07:07:00 AM
