Kobe Bryant leaves early in Lakers’ 111-91 loss at Detroit
Lakers forward Kobe Bryant drives around Pistons forward Marcus Morris (13) during the first half.
Kobe Bryant probably should have skipped this one. The Lakers too.
Bryant was feeling ill Sunday and presumably so were Lakers fans after a 111-91 loss Sunday to the Detroit Pistons.
His final game at the Palace resulted in five points on two-for-15 shooting, three turnovers, one assist and 1½ postgame IV bags to replenish fluids.
He added to a disjointed offense by rarely looking to pass and left the game after the third quarter because of what the Lakers called “gastroenteritis,” commonly known as stomach flu.
“If it wasn’t my last season, I probably wouldn’t have played,” Bryant said after a lengthy stay in the trainer’s room.
Will he be ready for Monday’s game against Toronto?
“If I’m walking, I’m playing,” he said.
It was another rough outing in another goodbye game for Bryant.
His first shot was a three-point try. He missed it.
In fact, he missed his first nine shots before making a three-pointer with 7 minutes 36 seconds left in the third quarter. The Lakers were down by 26 points.
The Lakers broke down into “me first” basketball. They had three assists in the first half and trailed, 65-42.
“I missed shots today because I was playing selfish ... taking shots that I don’t usually take,” Jordan Clarkson said after scoring seven points on three-for-11 shooting.
Maybe Coach Byron Scott’s words before the game bordered on clairvoyant. How could the Lakers’ young players adjust to Bryant’s present-day game?
“I think they’re learning on the fly. It’s probably tough adjustments for most of the guys. I think it’s an adjustment that they have to get used to for right now,” he said.
At least there was Nick Young to add some intrigue.
He took a hard fall on a dunk attempt after a foul by Anthony Tolliver. Then Young got up and pushed Tolliver, delivering a forearm shove near his throat.
Young was ejected and could face further discipline from the league. He blamed “built-in frustration” and thought it was a cheap foul because the Lakers were “down 30.”
On the other hand, “It was my fault for reacting,” he said.
It was surprising to see Young out there in the first place. Scott said beforehand he didn’t plan on playing Young.
Young missed all three of his shots in seven scoreless minutes.
Julius Randle had 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Lakers, and Lou Williams scored 21 points.
None of the Lakers’ starters played in the fourth quarter. Detroit was up through three quarters, 90-65, led by 22 points from Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and 20 from Reggie Jackson.
Bryant could savor at least one moment Sunday. His pregame introduction far exceeded the typical one for a Pistons player.
After the other four Lakers starters were introduced, the lights darkened and the spotlight grabbed Bryant. The Pistons’ exuberant public-address announcer listed seemingly all of Bryant’s career achievements and actually called him “The Black Mamba” before fans got the chance to acknowledge him, which they did with good volume.
Bryant had a bad experience at the Palace in the 2004 NBA Finals, the Lakers surprisingly losing in five games. He still remembers the same announcer.
“For about a year straight, all I heard was ‘Deee-troit basketball,’ ” Bryant said.
Bryant’s last words to reporters in Detroit were something he never could have imagined all those years ago.
“We’ll try and go 4-17 [Monday],” he said, and then he was out the door.
NEXT UP
LAKERS AT TORONTO RAPTORS
When: Monday, 4:30 p.m. PST.
Where: Air Canada Centre.
On the air: TV: TWC SportsNet, TWC Deportes; Radio: 710, 1330.
Records: Lakers 3-17; Raptors 12-9.
Record vs. Raptors: 0-1.
Update: Toronto made a commendable 15 of 33 three-point shots in a 102-91 victory over the Lakers last month at Staples Center. Kyle Lowry was seven of 11 behind the arc and had 25 points with five assists. The Raptors are only 4-4 at home, one of a handful of NBA teams with better road records.
Twitter: @Mike_Bresnahan
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