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Kobe-less Lakers keep playoff hopes alive
Source: AFP |
April 16, 2013, Tuesday
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Just one day after Kobe Bryant underwent season-ending foot surgery, the Los Angeles Lakers kept their playoff hopes alive by surprising the first place San Antonio Spurs 91-86 on Sunday.
In a game that had huge playoff ramifications, Dwight Howard had 26 points and 17 rebounds and Steve Blake finished with 23 points and four assists for the Lakers, who are 1 1/2 games up on the Utah Jazz, who play in Minnesota next.
"Steve Blake was just going crazy," said Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni. "Different guys stepped up but Dwight and Steve Blake carried the bulk of the work."
In the heat of the NBA playoff race, Bryant tore his left Achilles tendon in Friday's win over Golden State. The 34-year-old Bryant underwent surgery on Saturday and the recovery time is expected to be somewhere around six-to-nine months.
Blake said everyone had to step up with 15-time All-Star Bryant out for the season. "When everyone is really focussed and concentrating on what they are supposed to do we can get a lot of stops," Blake said.
Blake also joked that he half expected the ultra-competitive Bryant to try and call the dressing room at the half time to give his teammates a pep talk.
"I am sure he had some input it just didn't get to us," Blake said after the game.
What Blake didn't know was that Bryant called the trainer's room during the break and asked to speak to Pau Gasol who was struggling with his shot in the first half. "I wanted to talk to him," said Gasol, who shot a dismal three-for-17 and finished with just seven points in the game. "He told me to ?just stay aggressive.'"
Bryant then tweeted after the game, "Whew!! Well done my dudes. Well done. UNO MAS #playoffs." Bryant then singled out the play of Howard who came to see him in the hospital on Saturday. "D12 was a beast. He stopped by the hospital twice yesterday to check on big bro that's luv #countond12."
The Lakers are battling the Jazz for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Lakers, who have won four consecutive games, have one game left while the Jazz have two contests remaining and hold the tiebreaker.
Tim Duncan finished with 23 points and 10 rebounds for San Antonio, who trail the Oklahoma City Thunder by a game for the top seed in the Western Conference. The Spurs are top in the Southwest Division.
In a game that had huge playoff ramifications, Dwight Howard had 26 points and 17 rebounds and Steve Blake finished with 23 points and four assists for the Lakers, who are 1 1/2 games up on the Utah Jazz, who play in Minnesota next.
"Steve Blake was just going crazy," said Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni. "Different guys stepped up but Dwight and Steve Blake carried the bulk of the work."
In the heat of the NBA playoff race, Bryant tore his left Achilles tendon in Friday's win over Golden State. The 34-year-old Bryant underwent surgery on Saturday and the recovery time is expected to be somewhere around six-to-nine months.
Blake said everyone had to step up with 15-time All-Star Bryant out for the season. "When everyone is really focussed and concentrating on what they are supposed to do we can get a lot of stops," Blake said.
Blake also joked that he half expected the ultra-competitive Bryant to try and call the dressing room at the half time to give his teammates a pep talk.
"I am sure he had some input it just didn't get to us," Blake said after the game.
What Blake didn't know was that Bryant called the trainer's room during the break and asked to speak to Pau Gasol who was struggling with his shot in the first half. "I wanted to talk to him," said Gasol, who shot a dismal three-for-17 and finished with just seven points in the game. "He told me to ?just stay aggressive.'"
Bryant then tweeted after the game, "Whew!! Well done my dudes. Well done. UNO MAS #playoffs." Bryant then singled out the play of Howard who came to see him in the hospital on Saturday. "D12 was a beast. He stopped by the hospital twice yesterday to check on big bro that's luv #countond12."
The Lakers are battling the Jazz for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Lakers, who have won four consecutive games, have one game left while the Jazz have two contests remaining and hold the tiebreaker.
Tim Duncan finished with 23 points and 10 rebounds for San Antonio, who trail the Oklahoma City Thunder by a game for the top seed in the Western Conference. The Spurs are top in the Southwest Division.
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