LA Lakers pull off 20 point comeback vs Charlotte Bobcats

The LA Lakers defeated the Charlotte Bobcats 100-93 but were lucky to do so, as they only played eight players and all of their starters played more than 30 minutes. Down 20, they came back to hand the Bobcats their sixth loss in a row. Impressively led by Kobe Bryant after he was scoreless in the first half.

Kobe said, “We started getting into a good rhythm and started to make some shots that we were missing in the first half and, defensively, we became a little more solid. We had to get on track and stop worrying about what we’re doing individually. Just focus on what we’re doing collectively as a group and just play for that.”

Kobe and Howard both played more than 37 minutes as Howard had 12 points with 11 rebounds and 3 blocks and Kobe finished with 20 buckets, 7 boards and 7 dimes. Steve Nash paced them well with 17 points and 7 assists. “We have to play the right way,” Bryant said. “When we have shots available, we take them. If we don’t, move the ball on. It can’t be about individual touches. It can’t be about that.”

Kobe scored all his 20 points in the second half after missing the only two shots he attempted in the first. But he shot only 6-15 from the field. “In the second half I got in position where I could catch it and turn and shoot it a little bit,” Bryant said. “They were reluctant to double team because we started knocking down some shots. I think that makes the game a lot easier.”

The Bobcats led 71-51 in the third quarter and then the Lakers went on a 9-0 run and eventually cut ahead with 4:46 remaining in the game to pull up by 1, 92-91.

The Lakers had six players in double figures. Metta World Peace added 11 on 5 for 14 shooting with 5 rebounds. Earl Clark had 17 on 7 for 14 shooting with 10 rebounds and 2 steals. Antwan Jamison added 17 off the bench on 6 for 12 shooting and Jodie Meeks had 14 on 5 for 7 shooting.

“We have so much stuff going on out here that every little thing is blown to bits and whether it is right or wrong or blown out of proportion it is. But, it affects us. It is a distraction. It saps energy. We got to be able to just close that out somehow.”- Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni said.

He wasn’t exaggerating. The Lakers are without Gasol for six weeks and they are currently playing under a microscope under which everything is magnified manifold.

The Bobcats played 9 players and three of them scored more than 18 points. Byron Mullens had 20 on 8 for 18 shooting. Gerald Henderson added 20 on 8 for 17 shooting and Kemba Walker added 18 on 7 for 15 shooting. While four Bobcats finished with double figures in rebounds as well. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Bismack Biyombo and Gerald Heenderson had 10 a piece and Byron Mullens had 12.

The ball was distributed well too as three Bobcats had 7 assists or more. Kemba Walker added 8 dimes and Ramon Sessions and Ben Gordon had 7 a piece. “We had them down pretty much the whole game,” Bobcats guard Kemba Walker said. “You know, they made a really good run. Kobe made a lot of good plays, made the right passes and guys just made shots.”

The Bobcats made two more field goals than the Lakers, 38 to 36 but they shot 42.7% to 45% of the Lakers. With this win the Lakers improved to 24-27 and inched another game closer to .500. They still need to overtake Houston and Portland to make it to the 8th spot. Portland is 25-25 and Houston, 28-24. The Bobcats dropped to 11-38, the very bottom of the Eastern Conference.

The Lakers’ next game is versus the Miami Heat on 11th.

Here are the game highlights: