Quarter Master Kobe Hurting

A day after having one of his best quarters as a Laker, Kobe Bryant sat out practice Saturday to have treatment on an injured groin.

Bryant’s condition was listed as day-to-day, but Coach Phil Jackson said after practice that he thought Bryant would be able to play against the Utah Jazz tonight.

Bryant put on an amazing show Friday night in the fourth quarter of the Lakers’ incredible 105-103 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. It was doubly amazing when you consider he injured his groin in the third quarter and might not have played the fourth had he not convinced trainer Gary Vitti to keep his injury a secret from the coaches.

All Bryant did in the fourth quarter was score 21 points on eight-for-eight shooting and make the winning basket with 8.4 seconds left as the Lakers handed the Mavericks only their second loss of the season.

The Lakers, who trailed by 30 points early in the third quarter, outscored the Mavericks, 44-15, in the fourth quarter.

“It’s the weirdest game I’ve ever seen, and I’ve been watching basketball for a long time,” said assistant coach Tex Winter, who is in his 56th season as a coach.

Jackson, who hasn’t been around quite as long, said, “I’ve never seen a game quite like that one.”

Asked if it was emotionally draining, Jackson said, “I think it was emotionally draining on the players.”

In the first half, the Lakers could do nothing right, and the Mavericks could do nothing wrong. The Mavericks finished the half with a flurry to take a 64-36 lead.

The Lakers missed all eight of their three-point shots in the first half, while the Mavericks made 10 of 14. Derek Fisher was one for nine from the field; Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki was five for five, and three for three from long range. The Mavericks’ Nick Van Exel made three of his four three-point shots.

The only Lakers to make more than one basket were Shaquille O’Neal and Robert Horry, who each made three.

And Bryant had perhaps his worst half as a Laker. He scored two points, making one of four shots.

About six minutes into the game, Bryant picked up his second foul and Jackson took him out of the game.

When he returned at the start of the second quarter, Bryant appeared to be in a funk, refusing to shoot.

Jackson was asked Saturday if Bryant was upset he had been benched.

“He didn’t say anything to me or give any signs that he was,” Jackson said. “I think he was unhappy he got that second foul.”

Jackson said the reason Bryant didn’t shoot more in the first half was because of the Mavericks’ defense.

“The spacing wasn’t there for him to drive to the basket,” he said, “but the passing lanes were open.”

Winter said that when the Lakers finally began making their shots, and Dallas began missing, the Mavericks “had to change their defense, and that opened things up.”

Jackson said assistant coach Frank Hamblen, who is in charge of advance scouting, had pointed out in his report that the Mavericks had been winning by large margins.

“They hadn’t had to play many games under duress,” Jackson said. “When we got close, they found themselves in a unique situation.”

Jackson said he hopes the momentum from the fourth quarter will carry over into tonight’s game.

“You never know about momentum,” he said. “She is a fickle girl.”

*

TONIGHT

vs. Utah, 6:30, Fox Sports Net

Site -- Staples Center

Radio -- KLAC (570), KWKW (1330).

Records -- Lakers 8-13, Jazz 12-8.

Record vs. Jazz -- 0-1.

Update -- The Lakers lost to the Jazz, 93-85, Wednesday at Salt Lake City. If the Lakers turn things around, that game may turn out to be the low point of the season. The Lakers shot 35.7% from the field, scored only 13 points in the third quarter and had 16 turnovers in the game. And after the game, the Lakers felt the ire of O’Neal. “I just want eight guys out there with me who want to play,” he said.... The Jazz is coming off a 104-71 victory Friday night over Memphis in which the team shot 55.6%. Karl Malone is averaging 18.7 points a game.