NBA Pre-Season: LA Lakers Win Against Denver Nuggets In Pre-Season Game; Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash ‘Look Excellent’ In First Start Since March 2013!
The LA Lakers scored a victory in the NBA Pre-season. The wins have come few and far between for the Tinseltown team in the last season so the Lakers fans will celebrate anything-especially the triumphant return of Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash.
The two players are entering their 19th NBA season and both missed significant time in the nightmare that was last season. They present a new hope for the fans of the Lakers who remain loyal despite the claim of the Clippers that they are now Los Angeles' premier team.
The last time Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash started together, Dwight Howard was still their center. This time, expectations are low and fans will take what they can get.
Observers noted that both the Black Mamba and the Canadian legend looked excellent in the win against the younger Denver Nuggets-a dark horse for a coveted playoff spot in the wicked Western Conference. Final score was a close 98-95. Some highlights from Lakers Nation:
"Kobe answered with a classic fadeaway to get the Lakers on the board. Two Kobe jumpers, including another beautiful fadeaway sandwiched an assist to Boozer as the Lakers tied the game at eight. A Wesley Johnson three gave the Lakers a 13-10 lead as Kobe scored or assisted on every early bucket. Nash got going with a layup and an alley-oop to Johnson."
Some post-game coverage from ESPN LA:
Kobe Bryant on Steve Nash: "It was real easy. It's extremely effortless to play with him. You get the ball to him and run and let him make decisions. We can do a lot in the two-man game so it's pretty easy."
The duo's stats: Bryant had 13 points, five assists and two rebounds, and Nash recorded 11 points, five assists and one rebound.
Steve Nash: "Kobe made some shots; it was great to see a lot of his patented tough fadeaways. It got guys off their feet, I thought it was a great first step for him. He looked like he's going to round into a pretty decent ballplayer here."
Of course, it's an off season game, but the Lakers' faithful are longing for success in any form. Seeing Kobe back gives them hope.
