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Scoreboard
LA Lakers defeat Golden State Warriors 118-116.
Kobe Bryant (LAL): 34 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists.
Pau Gasol (LAL): 26 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists.
Stephen Curry (GS): 47 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists, 3 steals.
Klay Thompson (GS): 25 points, 2 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals.
LA Clippers defeat New Orleans Hornets 96-93.
Blake Griffin (LAC): 20 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block.
Chris Paul (LAC): 17 points, 7 rebounds, 14 assists, 2 steals, 1 block.
Eric Gordon (NO): 25 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal.
Robin Lopez (NO): 19 points, 12 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block.
Arizona Diamondbacks defeat LA Dodgers 3-0.
W: Patrick Corbin (2-0, 1.50 ERA). L: Clayton Kershaw (2-1, 1.16 ERA). S: J.J. Putz (2).
Clayton Kershaw: 7.1IP, 6H, 3ER, 3BB, 9K, 111 pitches/71 strikes.
Patrick Corbin: 6IP, 3H, 0ER, 3BB, 4K, 1HBP, 106 pitches/61 strikes.
HR: Dodgers - None; D-Backs - None.
Houston Astros defeat LA Angels 5-0.
W: Bud Norris (2-1, 1.96 ERA). L: Tommy Hanson (1-1, 6.55 ERA).
Tommy Hanson: 5IP, 8H, 5ER, 2BB, 2K, 1HR, 108 pitches/67 strikes.
Bud Norris: 7IP, 3H, 0ER, 2BB, 5K, 1HBP, 96 pitches/67 strikes.
HR: Angels - None; Astros - Justin Maxwell (1).
Kobe Down. Wow. What other word is there?
Late in the fourth quarter Kobe Bryant just made two free throws to tie the game 109-109. The Lakers fouled to get Kobe off of the court. Robert Sacre had to help Kobe walk off the court and into the locker room. It didn't look good.
It didn't look good all game. Early in the third quarter as Kobe was elevating for a dunk, he came down awkwardly on his left knee. Later in the third quarter he came down awkwardly on his right leg. But he never left the game. Sure he was hobbled, but after trailing by nine points with 6:48 left to go he knocked down two ice-cold three-pointers to tie the game with 3:45 left.
But then it happened. With 3:08 left in the game when he tried to get around Harrison Barnes and collapsed onto the floor. The referees gave Barnes a foul, but Kobe tried to get up and put weight on his leg. He couldn't expletives pouring out of his mouth as he called a time out.
Kobe managed to come out to make his two free throws to tie the game at 109-109, but he couldn't move anymore. The team said he has a probable torn Achille's tendon on his left foot and will get an MRI tomorrow to confirm. "I can't walk," Kobe confirmed after the game saying that he felt a pop, the distinctive characteristic of a torn Achille's tendon. All with tears in his eyes.
Without Kobe, the Lakers still managed to get the much needed win over the Warriors. It was perhaps the most transcendent fourth quarters I have seen out of the Lakers in a long time. But it doesn't get any easier for them. They host San Antonio on Sunday and the Houston Rockets on Wednesday to close out the season.
The Lakers need to finish a game ahead of the Utah Jazz to make the playoffs. The Jazz close out with road games at Minnesota and Memphis. So with Kobe seemingly out for a second or two, will the Lakers still make the playoffs?
But more than this, with all the mileage on his legs will he be back? "I'm pissed off just thinking about that," Kobe joked.
This much is for sure. If this is what he and all of us fear, he will be out for a year. It can't end like this, can it? Just, wow.
Snark. After Thursday night's kerfluffle, the Dodgers tweeted this out:
See you on Monday in Los Angeles: pic.twitter.com/y2E5e4TBzq
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 12, 2013
Exactly one year ago, the Kings beat the Vancouver Canucks 4-2 in Vancouver. The Kings tweeted this out:
To everyone in Canada outside of BC, you're welcome.
— LA Kings (@LAKings) April 12, 2012
It was a bit revolutionary for a team's official Twitter account to have an edge. The Kings were the first to do it and proved to be the star of the Stanley Cup playoff run. Are the Dodgers going to finally follow suit?
Standings
NBA Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 59-21
2. San Antonio Spurs 58-21 (1/2 game back)
3. Denver Nuggets 54-25 (4 1/2)
4. LA Clippers 53-26 (5 1/2)
5. Memphis Grizzlies 54-25 (4 1/2)
6. Golden State Warriors 45-35 (14)
7. Houston Rockets 44-35 (14 1/2)
8. Los Angeles Lakers 43-37 (16)
9. Utah Jazz 42-38 (17)
NHL Western Conference
1. Chicago Blackhawks 31-5-4 (66 points)
2. Anaheim Ducks 27-9-5 (59)
3. Vancouver Canucks 23-11-6 (52)
4. Los Angeles Kings 23-14-4 (50)
5. San Jose Sharks 21-12-7 (49)
6. St. Louis Blues 23-15-2 (48)
7. Minnesota Wild 22-16-2 (46)
8. Detroit Red Wings 19-15-7 (45)
