Bryant Says He Owed Team One

Kobe Bryant said there was spring in his sore legs after practice on Saturday. It was the rest of his body that was worn out.

This was one day after getting up at 4:30 in the morning to make a court date in Eagle, Colo., flying back to L.A. in time for the final three quarters of the Lakers’ game against Denver, and then, to top it all off, making the game-winning shot at the buzzer.

Bryant and his coach, Phil Jackson, took the game-winning shot in stride.

“It’s ironic how the situation played out,” Bryant said.

Ironic isn’t quite the word for it.

Bryant said some friends had called to say the shot was inspirational.

“For them, if that’s what they get from that, I’m happy and appreciate that,” he said.

“But for me, it’s just going out there and playing.”

He said it wasn’t any kind of personal victory.

“It was just another game,” he said. “I told Horace [Grant] I owed him one because I missed one in San Antonio and the game ended up going into double overtime.”

The Lakers won that one, 120-117, on Nov. 6. They won Friday night, 101-99, to end a two-game losing streak and improve to 19-5 going into tonight’s game against the Phoenix Suns.

Bryant said he hadn’t slept much the previous two nights. He said he was up until 2 a.m. Thursday “just having a good time at home” before arising at 4:30.

So, was he thinking about getting back to L.A. in time for that night’s game?

“No, I was thinking, ‘I don’t feel like getting up right now.’ ”

Bryant said by the first lunch break in Eagle he knew he would probably make it back to L.A. in time for at least some of the game.

Of Bryant’s game-winner, Jackson said, “It was not only good for us, it was good for him.”

But miraculous? Not in Jackson’s opinion.

“There’s nothing miraculous about a player doing what he does, that we do,” said Jackson, who played 13 years in the NBA. “We play basketball, that’s our profession. Guys can jump out of a sick bed and be able to do what they do, just like you guys can write blind.”

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Both Jackson and Karl Malone mentioned that the Lakers have been outscored in the fourth quarters of their last five games. The Nuggets, who had trailed by as many as 19 in the third quarter, outscored them, 29-21, in the fourth quarter and got even at 99-99 with 2.5 seconds left by scoring nine points in a row.

Malone said there were some breakdowns on defense. And when asked about shot selection, he said, “Yeah, might that have something to do with it, you think?”

Bryant missed four shots in a row before making the game-winner and was five for 14 in the game. Jackson, asked if he talked to Bryant in particular about his shot selection, said he talked to everyone about shot selection.

Of Saturday’s practice session, Jackson said the emphasis was on team execution. “It’s not just work on your moves, your shots, or your individual game when you come to practice,” he said.

“A team has to work on how it operates as a unit.”

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Gary Payton was nursing a sore ankle that got kicked late in the game Friday night. His status will be evaluated daily....

After practice Saturday, the players participated in their annual Christmas party for children from the L.A. Department of Children and Family Services. It was held at the team’s practice facility in El Segundo.

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TONIGHT

Phoenix, 6:30, Fox Sports Net

Site -- Staples Center

Radio -- KLAC (570)

Records -- Lakers 19-5, Suns 10-17.

Record vs. Suns -- 1-0

Update -- This will be the Suns’ sixth game for Mike D’Antoni as the head coach since the firing Dec. 10 of Frank Johnson. The Suns are without Amare Stoudemire, who is on the injured list because of a sprained ankle. The Suns ended a six-game losing streak with a 92-91 victory at Seattle on Tuesday night, lost in overtime to Portland, 101-94, Thursday night and defeated Houston on Saturday, as Stephon Marbury had 25 points and seven assists.