Nikki Bazar

There was a strange look in Kobe Bryant's face during Friday night's game against the Phoenix Suns: It was a look of defeat. Kobe seemed tired and listless, playing only 17 points in their 93-85 loss. We shouldn't waste too much sympathy on a multi-millionaire, but it's been hard not to feel for Kobe, who has been playing some of the best basketball of his career without getting any consistent help from the rest...

Last night, Zócalo L.A. hosted a panel discussion at the Central Library to explore the question, "Who Really Runs L.A.?" The discussion, moderated by Mariel Garza of the Los Angeles Daily News, featured panelists Kerman Maddox, who works for public affairs consulting firm Dakota Communications; L.A. Weekly city hall reporter David Zahniser; political scientist and Director of Pat Brown Institute of Public Affairs at Cal State L.A. Jaime Regalado; and Los Angeles Magazine writer...

Though the two teams were neck and neck most of the night, the Lakers ended up falling to the Denver Nuggets 111-105 Tuesday night. The game was especially important since both teams are jockeying for sixth place in the Western conference. This loss leaves the Lakers at 39-35 W-L and the Nuggets at 37-36 W-L. The game was fast and competitive all night and with the league's two top scorers - Kobe Bryant and...

Now's your chance to join the Los Angeles Dodgeball Society without risking too much injury. The society's Stay Puft Marshmallow Monday Night league starts April 9 at the Hollywood Rec Center (1122 Cole Avenue). This co-ed league plays with mostly "no-sting" balls. Teams consist of no more than 15 people, each competing for "the sweetest ice cream party ever." Games are at 8 and 9 p.m. Monday nights for nine weeks. Entry fee is...

After a heartbreaking loss to the Houston Rockets on Friday night, the Lakers redeemed themselves by scorching the Sacramento Kings 126-103 at Staples Center on Sunday night. Kobe had a season-high 13 assists, while Maurice Evans and Luke Walton scored 21 and 18 respectively. The Lakers' number two man, Lamar Odom, was crippled by foul trouble, but plenty of other players stepped up to the plate, demonstrating that the Lakers can be a deep...

Coming off of a five-game winning streak, the Lakers lost 88 to 86 to the Memphis Grizzlies - the worst team in the league- on Tuesday night. Kobe played poorly, missing his first two free throws of the game and scoring only 23 points overall. The score was tied with one minute to go, but a three-pointer from Memphis' Tarence Kinsey brought the Grizzlies back up and the Lakers never really recovered. At one...

The Lakers continued their five-game winning streak with Sunday night's 115-113 win over the Golden State Warriors. Kobe Bryant did not stretch his 50+ points game streak to five, scoring (only) 43 points. Lamar Odom was also instrumental with 24 points and 19 rebounds. The game turned out to be a nail-biter when Golden State's Stephen Jackson dropped a three-pointer with 1.9 seconds to go, making it a one-point game, but a free throw...

Well, it's official. Kobe is the only player in history besides Wilt Chamberlain to play four straight 50+ games. In Friday night's game, Kobe scored exactly 50 points, carrying his team to a 111-105 win over the New Orleans Hornets. All eyes were watching, tallying each point he made. And Kobe did actually attempt to be humble: In a pre-game interview, he graciously told John Ireland that one of the best parts about being...

The big question last night was if Kobe would be the first Laker to score three 50+ games in a row since Elgin Baylor did it in 1962. And he did. And more. But the game wasn't all it was cracked up to be. There's no reason why the Lakers shouldn't be able to shake the worst team in the league, especially when they made mincemeat out of Kevin Garnett and the Timberwolves last...