The path outlined before Kobe Bryant paved the way for the Lakers’ star to perform an act so ordinary with implications so extraordinary.

It has cemented his legend. It has revealed his unmatched confidence. It has earned his team’s trust.

So with the Lakers needing a game-winning shot, they turned to Bryant. He caught the ball at the top of the key. Bryant drove to the left elbow using his crafty footwork to create separation. He used a series of pump fakes in hopes to throw Oklahoma City forward Andre Roberson off balance and draw a foul. Even when that did not work, Bryant saw an open 17-foot jumper that has become as customary as his “M-V-P” chants that bounce around the Staples Center walls.

But this time, Bryant did not produce a happy ending. Roberson contested the shot as well as he did on 11 of Bryant’s 14 previous attempts. Bryant’s shot hit off the right side of the rim. He threw up his right arm and quickly tossed his shooting sleeve in disgust. And the Lakers walked off with a 104-103 loss on Friday to the Oklahoma City Thunder that left the Lakers with so many topics to address surrounding their star.

“We got what we wanted in the end,” Lakers coach Byron Scott said. “We got a good shot and good look at it. He just missed it.”

Yet, the debate entailed much much more.

Bryant produced only nine points on 3-of-15 shooting, a performance that both Scott and Bryant attributed to fatigue. The Lakers (8-18) remained within striking distance in unseating the Thunder (13-14) for reasons beyond star forward Kevin Durant sitting out with a sprained right ankle.

Lakers forward Ed Davis (16 points) and guard Ronnie Price (14 points) posted season-high performances. Jordan Hill provided 10 points and eight rebounds despite nursing flu symptoms that kept him out of practices on Wednesday and Thursday, as well as the morning shootaround on Friday.

Nick Young may have sparked an ejection with 11:24 remaining after he shoved Thunder forward Steven Adams in the throat with his forearm amid frustration over a hard screen. A Lakers’ 3-pointer was also later ruled a two-point shot after referees looked at the replays. The Lakers had no answer both for Russell Westbrook’s team-high 31 points on 9-of-22 shooting, or the Thunder going 22-of-29 from the foul line. But the Lakers’ reserves overcame that absence with even contributions from Carlos Boozer (14 points), Jeremy Lin (12 points) and Wayne Ellington (nine points).

Though Bryant had made a 15-footer that gave the Lakers a 99-98 lead with 2:34 left, the Lakers’ star then missed two consecutive jumpers from 15 and 20 feet, respectively. Lin had made a 15-footer that cut the Thunder’s lead to 104-103 with 32 seconds left, marking a fourth quarter stretch where he went 3-of-5 from the field. Yet, it was Lin who inbounded the ball to Bryant for one simple reason.

“32,000 plus points,” Scott explained.

That left Lin offering a steam of consciousness analysis. In one breath, Lin calls Bryant’s game-winning attempt “a very hittable shot” before saying “it’s a matter of time before he starts hitting those game winners.” In another breath, Lin admitted, “I like gamers winners, too, and I would love to shoot some.” And on the last breath, Lin went back to deferring by expressing both respect for the final play and trust in Bryant’s 19-year reputation in overcoming such challenges.

“I get it,” Lin said. “That guy is kind of the king of game winners. He’s going to hit that shot. He’ll figure it out. That’s why he is who he is.”

But is that the way it should be?

“I’m a competitor,” Lin said. “I always feel like everyone on the floor is going to want to take the game winner. Everyone trains for that and draws it up in their head. But again like I said, he’s the king of game winners. Do I understand why we went to him? Yeah, for sure. I understand. That’s coach’s call. [Kobe’s] going to hit many of those shots throughout the course of the season.”

Other teammates supported the last call, with Davis saying, “I’d take that look from Kobe any day.”

After all, Bryant had surpassed Michael Jordan last week for third-place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. The Lakers provided another reminder when they presented the 36-year-old star, his wife (Vanessa) and two daughters (Natalia, Gianna) before the Thunder game with a touching video tribute and gifts. Bryant waxed nostalgic about that moment afterwards. But that covered up his otherwise dour mood over missing what he called a “clean look.”

“I didn’t have my legs,” Bryant said. “It was pretty frustrating. I got to figure it out.”

To ensure those looks go in, the Lakers concede they will have to adjust how they handle Bryant’s workload.

“It’s hit or miss,” said Bryant, who has averaged 24.6 points this season albeit on only 37.7 percent shooting. “Some games it here, some games it’s not. You just have to keep trying different things and see if I can find something consistent.”

Earlier this month, Bryant had skipped shootarounds and practices all together so he could maximize around-the-clock treatment that entailed ice baths, massage therapy and resting. The past two weeks, Bryant practiced. Last Thursday, Bryant participated in a practice that entailed shouting obscenities at teammates during a five-on-five scrimmage that seemingly elevated their play. Even with the Lakers not playing since last Monday, Bryant still did not have enough energy. This past Wednesday, Bryant completed half-court drills that Scott suggested may have backfired.

“I thought he probably did a little too much,” Scott said. “I really thought I was going to have him have that day off and get some shots up and things like that. But he wanted to compete in practice and get guys going. Ultimately that may have bit us in the butt a little bit. But you learn from it, move on and go to the next phase.”

Bryant’s take?

“Maybe. It’s a balancing act,” Bryant said. “Just trying to figure out when to do it and when not to do it. I’m just trying to figure out proper rest and all that other stuff. Just trying to get a good system so I start getting some consistency in these legs.”

Scott called that process as something he will figure out “day by day.” He also said he’s “not really concerned” about the development. But moments later, Scott admitted he might have to become more assertive on restricting Bryant’s workload.

“Maybe I have to just say ‘Take the whole day off,'” Scott said, “instead of him getting up shots and doing the things that he did.”

That the 36-year-old Bryant has even made it this far remains an accomplishment in itself. After all, Bryant admitted it’s “pretty crazy,” he’s the lone surviving member of the 2010 NBA Finals showdown between the Lakers and Celtics after Boston traded Rajon Rondo on Thursday to the Dallas Mavericks. Bryant also noted he’s “the last one from the ’96 draft,” something that became official once Lakers guard Steve Nash would stay sidelined this season because of recurring back problems.

But with Bryant failing to secure a win on a potential game-winning shot he has made many times before, his season-long quest to fight back against Father Time leads the Lakers’ star considering going back to the drawing board.

“Hopefully I can figure something new out tomorrow,” Bryant said. “It’s trial and error.”

And as the Lakers experienced against the Thunder, sometimes those errors can determine a win or a loss.

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Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter and on Facebook. E-mail him at mark.medina@langnews.com