Bryant scored 31 points — tying a season high — to help the Lakers beat the Nuggets 111-107 and snap a streak of 17 consecutive losses to Western Conference opponents. It was the franchise’s longest such streak since the conference formed before the 1970-71 season.
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The win hardly renders the Lakers relevant in the West, but it always gets people excited when Bryant shows he still has a few things up his sleeve. This time, he shot 46 percent from the floor and even chipped in five assists(!) and three rebounds.
There also was one moment in the third quarter when Bryant might have needed a walking cane .
All of it was entertaining at least, even if the Lakers (5-23) are still bringing up the rear in the conference. This should set the stage nicely for the Lakers’ Christmas Day showdown with the fourth-place, Staples Center-sharing Clippers (16-13), who are favored by a very wide margin.
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Meanwhile, in the East . . .
It’s Christmas time, and the top 10 teams in the Eastern Conference are separated only by 4 1/2 games.
That’s not entirely surprising given the conference’s history of underwhelming, but this year all 10 are above .500, and at this point it’s anybody’s guess as to which will squad emerge as a worthy championship contender vs. the all-powerful West should the Cavs falter.
Many seem capable.
Example A: The Pistons, who edged out Example B, the Heat, on Tuesday in a gritty 93-92 victory. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, whose emergence has coincided with Detroit’s sudden rise up the standings, hit the eventual game-winning jumper with 55.5 seconds to play. For much of the game, Miami appeared in control, but the Pistons made 15 of their 29 3-point attempts, the second-most by any team this season. After Tuesday, Detroit is looking awfully tough.
Caldwell-Pope, not long removed from his 31-point outburst against the Celtics, finished with 14 points and three assists. Andre Drummond, another Pistons rising star, notched a double-double of 11 points and 12 rebounds. Reggie Jackson, maybe their most important player, scored a team-high 18.
All that and the Pistons are about the get a nice little Christmas gift in the return of point guard Brandon Jennings, out since tearing his Achilles a year ago. Jennings was active on Tuesday but didn’t play. He will give the Pistons a spiffy backcourt rotation, joining Jackson, Caldwell-Pope and veteran Steve Blake, who has filled in nicely off the bench.
The win — their fourth in five games — puts the Pistons (17-12) just percentage points out of fourth place in the East, behind the Heat and Pacers (both 16-11).
Stud of the Night
For all the inconsistencies that plague the Raptors (18-12), DeMar DeRozan has been a constant on offense, and he was again in a 103-99 win over the Mavericks (15-13). DeRozan scored 28 points, the fourth straight game in which he has scored at least that many.
Dud of the Night
It looked for a moment like the 76ers were about to put forth their best performance this season against the Grizzlies (16-14). But they had the play the second half, and that’s when things turned a familiar hue for Philadelphia, which lost 104-90 after having led for part of the first half. The 76ers committed 28 turnovers, their second-most this season and their fourth game of 25 or more. The rest of the NBA has three such games. Naturally, the 76ers became to first team in NBA history to start a season 1-29.
Looking ahead (all times Eastern):
Pistons (17-12) at Hawks (18-12), 8 p.m.: The Hawks, in third place in the Eastern Conference, and Pistons have been playing winning basketball of late. Atlanta is especially hot, winner of four straight. This is Detroit’s latest opportunity to announce itself as a contender following Tuesday’s win over Miami.
Jazz (12-14) at Warriors (26-1), 10:30 p.m.: Before hosting the Cavaliers in their much-anticipated Christmas Day Finals rematch, the Warriors must first clear a Jazz team looking to string together three straight wins for the first time this season. Of course, stringing together wins hasn’t been an issue for Golden State, which still maintains a 30-game home winning streak. Will the Warriors get caught looking ahead or will this merely be a tune-up for LeBron James and company?
