Young Grizzlies ruin Kobe's historic night

By Marlon W. Morgan, for NBA.com
Posted Tuesday February 2, 2010 12:36AM

MEMPHIS (NBA.com exclusive) -- With the Memphis Grizzlies leading the Los Angeles Lakers by two points in the waning seconds, there was no question Kobe Bryant was going to have the ball in his hands.

Having just hit the game-winner Sunday afternoon at Boston, Bryant was looking to do the same Monday night. But with O.J. Mayo getting hung up on a screen, Memphis center Marc Gasol stepped out to help on Bryant, who seconds earlier had knocked down a 3-pointer on the same play. He also noticed Rudy Gay coming into help. With the shot clock winding down, Bryant, who had already scored 44 points, opted to pass to a wide-open Ron Artest, who was camped out behind the 3-point line.

Gay got back to Artest in enough time to get a hand up, forcing Artest's shot to clang off the rim at time expired, giving the Grizzlies a 95-93 win in front of their second sellout crowd of the season (18,119) at FedExForum.

"I knew Pau (Gasol) was going to the pick-and-roll like the two plays before," Marc Gasol said. "He took middle and the last time he made a three. I tried to show and double-team him. I tried to stay in front of him. I don't know what he was thinking. Maybe somebody was behind me helping and he saw Ron wide open. He had a good look. (Kobe) could have took me if he wanted to."

The loss spoiled one Lakers milestone prevented another. In the third quarter, Bryant surpassed former Laker great Jerry West as the team's all-time leading scorer. His 25,208 points ranks 14th on the NBA's all-time scoring list.

"It's a great honor, to say the least, to be with all the great players and the rich tradition that we have," Bryant said. "It's a great accomplishment. (Jerry West) taight me so much when I was 17 years old. he taught me a lot about the game, and the rules, and on and on. It's me passing him in the record books, but I feel like it's us. It's still Magic (Johnson). It's still all of the other great players."

The loss also meant Lakers coach Phil Jackson is going to have to try again to become the Lakers all-time winningest coach in regular season wins as he remains tied with Pat Riley with 533 victories.

The Grizzlies, meanwhile, bounced back from Saturday's tough overtime loss to New Orleans. In that game, they squandered a 21-point second half lead and lost to the Hornets, giving Memphis back-to-back losses for the first time in more than a month. The loss also snapped an 11-game home win streak.

"I'm still mad about losing that game," Gasol said.

All-Star forward Zach Randolph, who had 22 points and 17 rebounds against the Lakers, challenged his teammates to come out with more focus and determination. After falling behind early against the Lakers, Memphis rallied to take an eight-point lead midway through the opening period before the Lakers rallied to tie the game.

Behind some unnexpected bench play from rookie guard and Memphis native Lester Hudson, who had been inactive in three of the last four games, the Grizzlies led 50-39 with 2:37 left in the half. Hudson, getting extended minutes in place of fellow rookie Sam Young, who was inactive after suffering from an allergic reaction, had scored 11 of his career-high 13 points in the quarter.

But Bryant rallied his team, scoring the Lakers' final 11 points, drawing two Memphis technical fouls along the way, to pull his team to within 52-50 at the half.

In the third quarter, the Grizzlies took a 64-53 lead midway through the quarter, only to see the Lakers take a 71-70 lead when Jordan Farmar hit a 3-pointer with 3.5 seconds remaining.

The Lakers entered the game 28-1 when leading after three quarters. They appeared ready to add to that total when Artest gave them an 81-80 lead with 6:01 to go.

But Randolph took over down the stretch, regaining the lead for his team at 88-86 when he scored over Pau Gasol. His free throws with 52.5 seconds remaining put the Grizzlies up 92-88. After a Bryant layup, Gay, who led the Grizzlies with 25 points, hit a 3-pointer with 29 seconds left to give the Grizzlies a 90-95 lead. But Bryant answered with a 3 on the other end.

Memphis point guard Mike Conley could have helped seal the win, but he missed a pair of free throws with 21.7 seconds left, setting the stage for Artest's final shot.

"I thought I had a good look at it," Artest said. "It felt good. I'm looking forward to more looks like that. It was a good pass. It's hard to be in a situation like that. It was good that Kobe passed the ball. I'll know what to expect next time. Next one will go in."

Bryant said it was a no-brainer to pass to the open Artest, who had 18 points and was 2 of 3 from long range.

"I had three guys (on me)," he said. "Ron was wide open in the corner. I'd take that look any time. No, I wouldn't take that shot with three guys (on me). Ron is a 40 percent 3-point shooter."

The Lakers end their eight-game road trip at 5-3. They return home to face Charlotte on Wednesday.

The Grizzlies have now beaten five of the six current division leaders at home, their only loss coming against the Boston Celtics. Now they head to Cleveland Tuesday night to play their fourth game in five nights.

"It's going to be tough tomorrow," Randolph said. "I want to see how these guys respond."

• Lakers: Morrison
• Grizzlies: Arthur, Young

• Lakers: --
• Grizzlies: Mayo, Randolph

• Lead Changes: 11
• Times Tied: 8

• Arena: FedExForum, Memphis, TN
• Officials: #62 Brian Forte, #46 Matt Boland, #32 Eddie F. Rush
• Attendance: 18119
• Duration: 2:24