Lakers beat Hawks as Kobe hits career milestone
32,000. Kobe Bryant, seen here posting up Atlanta guard Jeff Teague, passes the 32,000-point mark for his NBA career. Photo by Erik S. Lesser/EPA
ATLANTA, United States – Kobe Bryant scored 28 points and passed the 32,000-point mark for his NBA career Tuesday, November 18 (Wednesday in PH) to spark the Los Angeles Lakers over the host Atlanta Hawks 114-109.
The Lakers, who snapped a four-game skid, recorded their first road triumph of the season and only their second win in 11 games while the Hawks fell to 5-5 in the young campaign with their first loss in five home games.
NBA scoring leader Bryant made 10-of-18 shots and added 4 rebounds, 3 assists and a steal for the Lakers, finishing on 32,001 points with a 3-point play off his final jump shot.
The total puts Bryant 291 points behind Michael Jordan for third on the all-time NBA scoring list.
Kobe earlier hit another milestone, but it was the negative kind, when he broke the NBA record for most missed shots.
The Lakers welcomed back Nick Young, who had been sidelined so far this season with a torn right thumb ligament. Young scored 17 points off the bench. Carlos Boozer added 20 points and 10 rebounds while Jeremy Lin contributed 15 points and a game-high 10 assists for the Lakers.
Paul Millsap scored 29 points to lead the Hawks, who also had 23 points from Jeff Teague and 15 points from Al Horford.
The Lakers led 67-52 at half-time but Atlanta scored the first 13 points of the second half only to falter and never move ahead of Los Angeles the rest of the way.
A left-handed running shot fell for Bryant to put the Lakers ahead 105-100 with 2:25 to play and after two Kyle Korver free throws for Atlanta, Bryant made the key 3-point play.
The Lakers, who had been the only Western Conference club without a road victory, opened a three-game road swing that includes visits to Houston and Dallas. – Rappler.com
