Lakers win first game since Kobe Bryant accident
Dwight Howard #39 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots the ball against the Sacramento Kings on February 1, 2020 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California.
Anthony Davis scored a team-high 21 points as the Los Angeles Lakers put the emotions of their Kobe Bryant tribute night behind them with a 129-113 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Saturday.
The Lakers won their first game since Bryant died in a horrific helicopter crash after losing 127-119 Friday to Portland on a night when they paid tribute to the NBA legend.
Davis followed up his 37-point performance against the Trail Blazers with another team-high total in the second game of a back-to-back set.”We got our first win,” said Lakers coach Frank Vogel. “It is never going to feel normal. It is never going to feel the same.
“That is our first win since this happened. There are going to be a lot of important steps for us along the way.”
LeBron James had a triple-double of 15 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists and Avery Bradley scored 16 of his 19 points in the first 12 minutes as the Lakers racked up 81 points in the first half.
Bryant’s career high was 81 points in 2006 against Toronto second only to Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game in 1962.”
“I loved the way we came out tonight,” Vogel said. “We knew last night was going to be an emotional game. We got through it. Tonight it was get back on track and go out and get a win no matter what.”
James’ triple-double was his 11th of the season, one off Luka Doncic’s league lead, and the 92nd of his career.
Only Oscar Robertson (181), Russell Westbrook (146), Magic Johnson (138) and Jason Kidd (107) have more career triple-doubles.