While the 3-point line elevated Kobe Bryant in the record books, it also buried the Lakers in Sunday night’s loss to Charlotte.
Bryant hit four triples to move past Peja Stojakovic (1,760) for the 12th-most in NBA history, but the Hornets knocked down 13 — including 11 in the first half alone — to trounce the Lakers, 101-82.
The 20-year veteran scored 23 points in as many minutes by shooting 8-of-18 from the field, but his fellow Lakers couldn’t muster much more offense, as the team went just 27-of-80.
“Once we started missing shots, I think we just got demoralized,” head coach Byron Scott said. “Defensively, if you look at the stat sheet, we did a pretty good job.”
Indeed, the Lakers (9-41) held the Hornets (23-25) to a 36-of-96 clip themselves. But Charlotte led by as many as 27 points while mounting major advantages in rebounds (59-42) and assists (28-13).
The Lakers briefly had a 10-9 run before their visitors rolled off 12 unanswered points and never let it get too close.
Bryant, who had seven of his eight rebounds in the first quarter, moved his influence from the glass to the scoreboard in the second. Midway through, he scored 11 in a row for Los Angeles, but Charlotte countered after most every basket.
Though the Hornets shot just 2-of-15 from deep in the second half, that didn’t stop them from expanding their lead thanks to defensive dominance. The purple and gold were held scoreless in the final four minutes of the third period, while Charlotte scored a dozen straight.
“We can’t let an eight-point game balloon to 20 in three minutes,” Bryant said. “That’s irresponsible.”
With Marvin Williams and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist leading the way with matching 19-point, 12-rebound double-doubles, the Hornets handed L.A. its 10th-straight loss, tying for the longest slide in franchise history (April 1994).
Many of the younger players, including Julius Randle, find themselves in an unfamiliar situation after so much success in high school and college.
“I’ve never experienced anything like this,” Randle said. “I have no clue how to deal with it. I just take it a day at a time.”
Notes
The Lakers held a moment of silence for Marge Hearn, the widow of legendary broadcaster Chick Hearn. Marge, 98, passed away the night before of natural causes. … In partnership with Make-A-Wish, the Lakers signed 18-year-old Yitzi Teichman to a one-game contract. He had a pregame press conference and shot around with the team. … A sold-out crowd of 18,997 filled Staples Center.
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