The Golden State Warriors – the short-handed, undersized, nothing-to-play-for Warriors – pushed the Los Angeles Lakers to the brink Tuesday. But then Kobe Bryant woke up.
The Lakers star guard, after being blanked for the first 10-plus minutes of the fourth quarter, knocked down two key baskets and a pair of free throws to stave off the Warriors’ upset bid and beat Golden State, 104-101.
Warriors forward David Lee put Golden State up 97-95 with a hook over Lakers forward Pau Gasol at the 1:22 mark. Then Bryant, who finished with a game-high 30 points, got the ball.
On the left side with Warriors rookie Klay Thompson defending him, Bryant dribbled toward the baseline – away from Warriors forward Brandon Rush, who was coming to double team – and pulled up for a 16-footer. That tied the game at 97.
Thompson followed by getting his runner blocked. When the Lakers got the ball back, Bryant scored again. Same area on the floor. Same defenders chasing him. Same pull-up jumper. The Lakers led 99-97 with 32.3 seconds left.
Looking to tie, Golden State turned to Rush. He had been the hot man, scoring 10 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter. But his driving layup attempt rimmed out. Gasol, Bryant and Lakers forward Matt Barnes knocked down five free throws in the final seconds to keep the Warriors at bay.
The Warriors, who have lost seven of nine, host New Orleans on Wednesday. Lee finished with 23 points and 9 rebounds. Thompson had 20 points, 7 assists and five rebounds. Forward Dominic McGuire had seven rebounds, five assists and three blocks in 28 minutes off the bench.
Gasol totaled 19 points and 17 rebounds. Barnes, the former Warrior, finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
– After his breakout game at Portland, Warriors rookie point guard Charles Jenkins got a text message from his good friend, Charlotte rookie Kemba Walker. The message summed up the reaction of many.
“It said, ‘About time,’” Jenkins said with a smile.
Jenkins’ 27-point performance at Portland was a product of Jenkins finally unraveling his ability in the game. He has shown flashes in previous appearances, but the rookie in him hadn’t allowed him to strut.
Coach Mark Jackson has raved about him from Day 1. His teammates implore him to be aggressive. Many fans have sensed Jenkins has more to his game.
“That’s the key to being a rookie, playing your part,” Jenkins said. “We’ve got a lot of scorers on this team. My job was to facilitate, run the team.”
Part of Jenkins’ strengths when the Warriors selected him in the second round (No. 44) was that he had the skills to play multiple styles. He has the size, the talent and the mentality to be a floor general.
But with the Warriors down the first two point guards, Stephen Curry and Nate Robinson, the opportunity was created for Jenkins to bring the other part of his game. You know, the guy who left Hofstra as the school’s all-time leading scorer.
“He’s got a mid-range game,” the Warriors’ McGuire said. “He can get to the cup. He’s got some game. He just needs to be more aggressive.”
Certainly, the expectations on Jenkins are higher since what he cost the Warriors. Partly because of their faith in him, the Warriors waived Jeremy Lin, who wound up becoming a star in New York.
Since the trade of Monta Ellis, Jenkins has gradually gotten more aggressive and has shown some of why the Warriors like his game so much. In a span of nine games entering Tuesday, Jenkins had taken 61 shots, 22 in Sunday’s loss at Portland. Before that, Jenkins totaled 50 shots in 23 games.
Tuesday against the Lakers, he had eight field goal attempts by halftime, leading to 10 points to go with his two assists in 18 minutes before the break. On a few occasions, instead of facilitating the offense, Jenkins created it himself. He finished with 12 points.
“Charles Jenkins is a guy we have tremendous trust in,” Jackson said. “It won’t be Jenkins-sanity, but he is a guy that is more than capable of going out and doing the job.”
We’re pleased with his progress.”
– Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson entered Tuesday’s game having scored double-digits in 13 straight games, including a career-high 31 points against visiting Sacramento on Saturday.
But just in case he was feeling too good about himself, Tuesday he drew the task of defending Kobe Bryant, who many consider the best in the league at his position.
“I can tell you he knows he’s not the baddest guy in the gym,” Jackson said of Thompson.
Jackson expressed confidence in having Thompson defend Bryant. At 6-foot-7, Thompson figures to gave the length and basketball IQ to at least make Bryant work. Plus, he had defenders such as Dominic McGuire and Brandon Rush behind him to allow him breathers.
Jackson said Thompson wouldn’t be rattled, instead look forward to the challenge. And the game plan sounded simple enough.
“Compete, contest shots and don’t put him at the foul line,” Jackson said. “Any great scorer, you don’t want to give easy ones and you don’t want to get him going from the free throw line. Also, make him work on the other end.”
Bryant had 24 points, including 9 of 10 from the free throw line, in his first 28 minutes of action.
– Warriors center Andris Biedrins (strained right groin) missed his fifth consecutive game. Point guard Nate Robinson (strained right hamstring) sat out his second consecutive contest.
