It started off like a movie.
The hero returning to his hometown one final time, Kobe Bryant was greeted by a roaring standing ovation from the Philadelphia crowd as his name was called for starting lineups.
In his first road game since announcing his retirement Sunday, Bryant had been presented minutes before with his freshman basketball jersey from local Lower Merion High.
“They got me,” Bryant said. “I wasn’t expecting that type of reaction and ovation. It was emotional for me, and I deeply appreciate beyond belief. It was really, really special.”
Immediately, Bryant penned a storybook script with his shot, sinking 3-pointers on each of the Lakers’ first three possessions.
But the narrative quickly turned against the 17-time all-star. Bryant racked up 13 first-quarter points, but he shot just 2-of-16 through the final three periods, adding just seven more points to his total.
The 37-year-old attempted 17 3-pointers — the most of any player older than 31 in recorded history (since 1985) — and made just one after his initial trio of triples.
Bryant’s teammates were unable to pick up the slack, as the Lakers blew a 14-point lead to hand the Philadelphia 76ers their first win of the season, thus avoiding the NBA’s unprecedented 0-19 start.
Despite the result, Bryant was able to soak in the emotions of returning to his hometown, where his father, Joe, played for the Sixers for the first year of Kobe’s life.
“There were ushers that were actually working behind the bench that used to babysit me when my father was playing at the Spectrum,” the younger Bryant said.
Avoiding History
With their win over the Lakers, the 76ers (1-18) remained tied with the 2009-10 New Jersey Nets for the worst start in league history.
For most of the first half, it seemed that L.A. (2-15) was on the verge of burying Philadelphia. The Lakers opened up a 57-42 lead with 1:37 before halftime, but the 76ers quickly shrank it back down to 58-50 by intermission.
“That was a bad indication of us taking them a little lightly, for whatever reason,” head coach Byron Scott said. “The second half, I just thought they played harder. Simple as that.”
Scott’s fear was realized, as the Sixers began the third quarter with six unanswered points to tie it back up. Jordan Clarkson scored 12 of his 19 points in this frame, but the remaining Lakers shot just 2-of-22, allowing Philadelphia to take an 80-75 lead.
Bryant hit an early reverse layup in the fourth to cut the deficit to five again, but then the 76ers pulled away on a 12-3 run.
The Lakers simply couldn’t compete from beyond the 3-point arc, shooting 8-of-34, while the Sixers made six more 3’s on two fewer attempts.
Robert Covington led the home team with a game-high 23 points (8-of-16), including five triples, extending the Lakers’ losing streak to seven games.
“I don’t know what to say no more,” Nick Young said. “Too much negativity going around the atmosphere. It’s starting to bother us. It’s starting to get to all of us.”
Dear Kobe
The 76ers paid tribute to the homecoming king with a short video tribute, which played before the game.
No. 2 vs. No. 3
D’Angelo Russell and Jahlil Okafor’s first meeting was overshadowed by Bryant’s final return to Philadelphia. Russell, the No. 2 pick of the 2015 Draft, finished with 12 points (5-of-14), which included the first dunk of his career — a one-handed hammer.
Meantime, Okafor, who was taken with the very next pick, matched Russell’s scoring total by shooting 6-of-14. Okafor also snagged five rebounds, while Russell handed out four assists.
Notes
Bryant’s jersey was delivered to him by his high school coach, Gregg Downer, and 76ers legend Julius Irving. … Julius Randle had his sixth double-double of the year with 12 points and 11 rebounds. … Lou Williams rejoined the team after missing its last two games due to the death of his grandfather. … Philadelphia had a 28-15 advantage in assists. … A crowd of 20,510 sold out Wells Fargo Center for Bryant’s final game there.
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