Kobe Bryant got the Los Angeles Lakers’ franchise scoring record, but the Memphis Grizzlies spoiled the celebration.

Bryant scored 44 points, passing Jerry West as the Lakers’ career scorer, but it wasn’t enough as the Grizzlies got 22 points and 17 rebounds from Zach Randolph to defeat the Lakers 95-93 on Monday night.

“It’s a great honor to say the least [because] of the great players that have played here and the tradition we have,” Bryant said of becoming the Lakers’ career leading scorer. “[West] taught me so much when I was 17 years old. He showed me a lot about the game, the jump shot and spin moves and all the others.

“Even though it’s me passing him in the record books, it’s still us, and it’s still Magic and all the other great players.”

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com

Kobe Bryant dealt with an aggravated back injury like any multimillionaire, superstar athlete would — he called his longtime massage therapist in Santa Monica, got him on a red-eye flight to Texas, then spent more than three hours Wednesday morning going through a deep-tissue treatment.


And after all that, Bryant played only 11 minutes in the first half and took one measly shot, a 3-point attempt that never had a chance of going in.

Yet Bryant somehow went from stiff to loose after halftime, playing the entire second half to avoid from tightening up again on the bench, and added to his lengthy list of dramatic finishes by making the go-ahead basket with 28 seconds left, sending the Los Angeles Lakers to a 100-95 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night in a matchup of the top two teams in the Western Conference.

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com

Lakers coach Phil Jackson says he is “hopeful” Ron Artest will rejoin the team in Los Angeles for Tuesday’s game against Golden State.


Speaking before the Lakers lost to the Phoenix Suns 118-103 on Monday night, Jackson said Artest still was experiencing some dizziness.

A team spokesman told ESPN.com that Artest was examined by a neurologist on Monday. He did not accompany the team to Phoenix and will not play in Monday night’s game. He also did not play Saturday against Sacramento

Artest sustained a concussion and injured his left elbow in a fall at his home on Christmas Day. The team said Artest tripped over a box and fell down stairs.

He did not travel with the Lakers on their two-game trip to Sacramento and Phoenix.

Click here to read the full article – By of ESPN.com