Behind 12 three-pointers and James Harden’s 32 point 6 assist performance, the Houston Rockets spoiled Kobe Bryant’s return to the Los Angeles Lakers with a 108-90 victory over Los Angeles on Tuesday night
Bryant scored 19 points in his first game back at Staples Center after missing most of the Lakers’ worst season in a half-century with two major injuries. Just by stepping on the court for his 19th season with the Lakers, Bryant extended his franchise record tying Utah’s John Stockton for the most seasons with one team in NBA history.
Lakers guard Kobe Bryant knocks over Houston guard Patrick Beverley as he makes a move to the basket in the second period of Tuesday’s game Oct. 28, 2014. (AP Photo/The Orange County Register, Paul Rodriguez)
Bryant’s comeback game and the Lakers’ return from a 55-loss season went from bad to miserable when rookie Julius Randle left his NBA debut strapped to a wheeled stretcher with a broken right leg. The seventh overall pick out of Kentucky collided with two Rockets under the basket and landed awkwardly, collapsing to the court in agony.
After his own Lakers debut ended somberly, head coach Byron Scott described the scene as ”heartbreaking.”
”The last three or four minutes, obviously we weren’t thinking a whole lot about basketball,” Scott added. ”We were just thinking about Julius, and hoping he’s OK.”
A few moments before Randle’s injury, Howard and Bryant received matching technical fouls when Howard elbowed Bryant in the face after grabbing a rebound in the fourth quarter, setting off a lengthy stretch of shouting and finger-pointing between the former teammates.
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 28: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Dwight Howard #12 of the Houston Rockets exchange words during a secong half incident that resulted in a technical foul against each player, a personal foul against Bryant, and a flagrant foul against Howard at Staples Center on October 28, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. The Rockets won 108-90
Although teammates stepped between them, Bryant appeared to yell ”Try me!” at Howard, who wore his usual broad grin while responding. There’s no need to go into it. We won the game,” Howard said. ”It’s over with. It’s about basketball. I’m not even focused on it.
Howard got a flagrant foul for the elbow, and Bryant got a personal foul in addition to their technicals. Both veterans were pulled from the blowout immediately afterward.
Houston’s All-Star Center had 13 points and 11 rebounds before getting into the exchange with Bryant.
The Rockets big free-agent acquisition Trevor Ariza and third-year man Terrence Jones scored 16 points apiece. Ariza hit five 3-pointers for the Rockets, who took an 18-point lead in the first half and weren’t threatened.
The Lakers left shortly afterward the game for their road opener in Phoenix tonight, while the Rockets flew to Utah for another road game Wednesday.
