Lakers’ Kobe Bryant unimpressed with vintage performance vs. Minnesota

Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) drives to the basket against Minnesota Timberwolves in the first half of a NBA basketball game at Staples Center on Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2015 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/ Pasadena Star-News)

Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) drives to the basket against Minnesota Timberwolves in the first half of a NBA basketball game at Staples Center on Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2015 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/ Pasadena Star-News)

The shots kept dropping into the basket at a remarkably efficient and prolific rate. His confidence appeared unwavering as he worked on his craft. And when the Lakers needed some signature plays to secure a much-needed win, their most trusted closer delivered again, again and again.

That will mark the legacy of Kobe Bryant, whose five NBA championships and third place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list could not fully capture his maniacal drive and unyielding will to put the ball in the hoop in the most needed moments. But on a night the Lakers sounded uncertain if he would even play an hour before tipoff, the 37-year-old Bryant seemingly traveled back in time and delivered the goods once more

The Lakers secured a secured a 119-115 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night at Staples Center, snapping both a 10-game losing streak and avoiding setting a franchise record for most consecutive defeats in a season. As the Lakers nearly blew a 16-point lead in the process, Bryant saved the day with a 38-point performance 10-of-21 shooting, 7-of-11 from 3-point range, five assists and five rebounds in 33 minutes.

All of which left Bryant puzzled over everyone else making such a big deal about it.

“You’ve seen it for 20 damn years,” Bryant said, shaking his head. “What are you impressed by?”


Well, how about everything?

Lakers coach Byron Scott considered it only a “50-50” chance Bryant would play amid continuous soreness in his right shoulder. With Bryant missing two out of four games last week, Scott admitted Bryant would have issues in his right shoulder until his 20th and final NBA season ends in the Lakers’ regular-season finale on April 13 against Utah at Staples Center. But after resting during Monday’s practice and Tuesday’s morning shootaround, Bryant stepped on the hardwood and moved with the energy and fluidity of someone not needing around-the-clock treatment. Scott described it as “very lively.”

“My body feels good,” Bryant said. “I feel strong. I don’t know what else to tell you. I thought I could run all night.”

Bryant also could score all night. He hit a 20-foot jumper over Minnesota forward Andrew Wiggins for a 113-110 lead with 26.4 seconds left. Bryant then made six foul shots for the final cushion. He capped off the Lakers’ efforts by scoring 14 of the final 18 points.

“It was the rhythm of the game, and the way the game flowed,” Bryant said. “The opportunities presented themselves. And taking advantage of and everything really revolved around the jump shot. Shots are falling. I’m making shots I’m supposed to make. The game kind of builds from there.”

All of which allowed the 37-year-old Bryant to become the oldest player to post at least 35 points, five rebounds and five assists in a game since Karl Malone in 2003. Bryant also became the oldest player with seven 3-pointers made in a game, a mark that eclipsed Reggie Miller in 2003.

“I don’t think about it,” Bryant said. “I really don’t. I show up, I play. When nights like this get rolling, they get rolling. They don’t, they don’t. I don’t sweat it.”

So much that when Bryant dismissed any feeling of insecurity when he shot 29.6 percent from the field in his first 17 games, a stretch that included an endless sequence of airballs. No doubt, Bryant battled frustration. But those feelings stemmed more from Bryant’s initially unsuccessful quest to ensure a healthy body than over his actual play. So even if Bryant recalled thinking, “What the hell am I doing out here?” the Lakers’ star tweaked his treatment and occasionally dialed back his shooting performances in hopes of a different result.

“I don’t sweat it man,” Bryant said. “I take the good with the bad. I have a great sense of balance. There’s a lot to learn from with the really really poor games. The bad ones are the ones that are very difficult to go through. When you look back, they’re actually more enjoyable. You really have to figure out a lot about yourself.”

Bryant figured out on Wednesday that he can still provide moments that elicit reminders of his prime. Incidentally, Bryant performed his latest feat on a man that became linked to his career-high 81-point performance on Jan. 22, 2006 against the Toronto Raptors for all the wrong reasons. Minnesota coach Sam Mitchell coached the Raptors when Bryant played his best game ever, leaving him to show visible annoyance to questuons beforehand pertaining to Bryant.

“Everybody has good players,” Mitchell said.

This reporter then brought up Bryant’s career-night 10 years ago, prompting Mitchell to provide an icy glare for five seconds.

“Can y’all ask me something [else]?” he said. “I think I’ve answered that question for the last five years enough.”

Nearly two hours later, Bryant gave Mitchell more nightmares by securing a win against a consistent lack of double teams once again.

“I hate him,” Mitchell said afterward. “If I don’t ever see him again, it will be too soon. I hate him.”

Bryant smiled and laughed when he heard of Mitchell’s comments.

“Well, thank you for the hate, I appreciate that. “Truly, I love that, Bryant said. “I give him a hard time too just joking with him,” Bryant said. “But honestly that night, there’s not much he could’ve done. I was just raising up and shooting over guys. It’s one of those freakish nights. But I will continue to rib him every time I see him.”

That did not take long. Mitchell and Bryant chatted in a Staples Center hallway after Bryant’s press conference. Mitchell may dislike talking about Bryant. But Mitchell sure loved talking to Bryant.

Meanwhile, the Lakers sure loved gushing about Bryant’s latest game.

Said Lakers second-year forward Julius Randle: “Some of the shots, it’s just like, ‘How do you make it?’ Pretty unbelievable, but when you’re in the game and you’re battling, it’s kind of hard to tell, but you know he’s doing something special.”

Said Lakers rookie point guard D’Angelo Russell: “It was just another Mamba moment to add to the collection. There should be a museum of just Mamba moments.”

That museum would show Bryant’s 81-point game, his 62 points through three quarters against Dallas and the 19 times he logged 50-point games. But the exhibit could feature Bryant’s latest performance considering the circumstances.

“I appreciate the fact he’s competing like he has for 20 years,” Scott said. “His body can’t do it like he used to, but his mind is still sharp as a tack. He still has that will. I marvel at that. Every game he plays, I appreciate the fact that for two more months I get a chance to see this.”

Will Bryant perform more moments like he did against Minnesota in the next two months? Who knows. But the man who performed those feats hardly sounded impressed or worried.

“Tonight I made shots I’m supposed to make,” Bryant said. “I had open looks and I made them. Then when that happens, you tend to get in a rhythm and you tend to make more difficult shots. Ti feels good to make those shots. I’ve been working on those shots a lot during the summer. It feels good now last game going into this game, I feel like I have a good rhythm. I feel the hard work paying off.”

RELATED:

Lakers barely avoid ending on wrong side of history with 119-115 win over Minnesota

Lakers pleased with Julius Randle’s recent progress

Lakers to shut down Larry Nance Jr. through NBA All-Star break

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