Kobe Is Wizard of Awes

It was billed as Air Jordan against the heir apparent.

And by the end of Tuesday night’s regular-season game between the Lakers and Washington Wizards, which had Staples Center crackling with postseason energy and excitement, it was plainly apparent that Kobe Bryant has the talent, the focus and the determination to fill the high-flying shoes of Michael Jordan.

With Bryant leading a spirited rally from a 20-point third-period deficit, the Lakers beat the Wizards, 103-94, in front of a sellout crowd of 18,997.

Responding to the challenge of a face-to-face meeting with Jordan and cognizant of the need to fill the gaping hole in the middle left by the absence of injured center Shaquille O’Neal, Bryant came up with one of the most complete games of his career. His third triple-double of his career consisted of 23 points, 11 rebounds and 15 assists, also the best in his career.

“I looked at this as a chance to show the world what we could do,” Bryant said.

Was he also eager to show Jordan what he could do?

“It was all business,” Bryant said.

Laker Coach Phil Jackson enjoyed his first head-to-head meeting with the player who led his Chicago Bull teams to six NBA titles.

“Some things started going on out there on the floor that were interesting,” Jackson said. “And comments were made, but it turned out to be fun.”

For nearly 32 minutes, the only thing apparent was the air between the Lakers’ shots and the basket.

Shooting only 32.6% in the first half, their defense spotty, their rhythm off, the Lakers fell behind the Wizards by 20 points midway through the third quarter.

Bryant was two for nine, Rick Fox one for five, Derek Fisher three for nine.

“I do not know what happened in the first half,” Jackson said. “I think we kind of stumbled around. It was an ambulant state, but we got it going after we were 20 down.

“I guess desperation is our answer to our playing basketball tonight.”

With such a lead in the hands of a Jordan-led team, such a comeback would not have seemed possible when Air Jordan ruled the NBA skies.

But this is another era. Jordan turns 39 Sunday, and his age showed at the most crucial time in the game, what used to be his time.

With the Lakers down, 63-43, and 7:50 remaining in the third quarter, Bryant began the long road back with a free throw.

That started the Lakers on an 8-0 run, which would mushroom into a 34-11run by quarter’s end. At one point in that run, Bryant scored six of the eight Laker points, hitting on a free throw, a jump shot, a layup off a steal and another free throw.

And there were other heroes as well. Slava Medvedenko and Mark Madsen, trying to supply some bulk and force up front to make up for O’Neal, who is on the injured list because of his chronic toe injury, also had their moments.

Madsen scored on a spinning baseline turnaround jumper, moving and gyrating much as he did last summer on the victory platform during the championship celebration, to bring the Lakers within 73-68.

Medvedenko got a tip-in to tie the score at 74.

And then Brian Shaw made a three-pointer with three-tenths of a second remaining in the third quarter to put the Lakers out in front, 77-74.

“I think we just lost our composure and I’m a part of that,” Jordan said.

Jordan finished with 22 points, making only eight for 20 from the floor. His shooting, however, wasn’t that much different from Bryant’s, the Laker guard connecting on only nine of 20.

While Jordan was unable to sustain a Wizard win streak that had reached five straight, improving Washington to 26-21 before the game, Bryant pulled the Lakers out of the valley.

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Air Gauge

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Air Apparent?

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