Bryant Was Inspired on Final Play

Though the primary option on the Lakers’ final, game-winning play Monday night against Dallas was for Kobe Bryant to work the clock, check the defense, then pass to Glen Rice for the final shot, Bryant said once he saw an opening, he had to take it.

“It doesn’t matter--if I come off a screen and the guy gives me the lane, I’m gone,” Bryant said after practice Tuesday.

Bryant beat his man, spun into the lane, was fouled, and made two free throws with 8.6 seconds left to give the Lakers a 108-106 lead, which held up when Michael Finley missed a three-point try at the buzzer.

In the locker room after the game, Bryant said Coach Phil Jackson had made a point of catching Bryant’s attention.

“He just kind of looked at me . . .” Bryant said, breaking off and mimicking Jackson’s powerful stare. “Just did one of those.

“It was like . . . it went in. So whatever. . . . I was waiting for him to say something. It was like telepathy or something.”

Jackson, for his part, said that he understands Bryant’s self-assurance in those game-deciding situations and that Bryant definitely had the option to take it himself when the play was diagramed.

“You can’t fault a guy because reality is, he’s got to have confidence to know what he can do in those situations,” Jackson said.

“And yet he’s got to be able to know that he’s got to use his teammates also. They also have to be a part of it. Those are the things we talked about after the game--Kobe and I did.”

TONIGHT

vs. Phoenix

7:30

Fox Sports Net

* Site--Staples Center.

* Radio--KLAC (570).

* Records--Lakers 24-5; Suns 18-10.

* Record vs. Suns--1-0.

* Update--It’s a different Sun team than the one the Lakers defeated Nov. 15 in Phoenix, 91-82. Danny Ainge resigned as coach earlier this month, Scott Skiles took over, and because of injuries, maladies and strategy decisions, the Suns have four different starters--Cliff Robinson, Rex Chapman, Oliver Miller and Rodney Rogers.