Sport
Kobe Bryant return dimmed as the LA Lakers fall to the Toronto Raptors
Kobe Bryant (l) dribbles the ball against Toronto’s DeMar DeRozan (r). PHOTO/USA TODAY Sports
Nearly 8 months after Kobe Bryant limped off the Lakers’ home court with a torn Achilles tendon and a career in doubt, he struggled to keep his composure when he finally stepped back onto the same hardwood.
And though his comeback night didn’t quite go to script, Bryant couldn’t help reflecting on the work necessary to get back on that court, and all the months of steady labor ahead to reclaim his game.
Bryant had 9 points and 8 rebounds in his season debut, but Amir Johnson of the Toronto Raptors scored a career-high 32 points in the Toronto Raptors’ 106-94 victory over Los Angeles on Sunday night.
Bryant began his 18th NBA season by going 2-for-9 with 4 assists and 8 turnovers in 28 minutes. He got injured on April 12 and persevered through several months of rehabilitation to return for Los Angeles’ 20th game of the new season, only to struggle with his shot, his timing and his new teammates.
“My rhythm is completely out of sync,” Bryant said. “But this is a start, and I guess a start is good.”
Adoring fans cheered Bryant’s every move and forgave every misstep, but he couldn’t rally the Lakers late despite another huge game by Los Angeles’ reserves. Bryant was touched by the fans’ reception and his teammates’ encouragement, although his ruthless competitive nature chafed against his natural emotions before the opening tip.
“You try to control it as much as you can, but you can’t help thinking about the hard work,” Bryant said. “You try to put it to the side as much as possible and do your work. It makes you appreciate the game, this franchise and this city, and all we have been through.”
The Lakers never led, and the Toronto Raptors improbably snapped its 5-game losing streak despite playing without forward Rudy Gay, who is expected to be traded to Sacramento on Monday as the centerpiece of an apparent seven-player deal.
Kyle Lowry had 23 points and eight assists, and DeMar DeRozan added 10 of his 26 points in the final 4:35 of the Raptors’ first road win over the Lakers in 11 tries since December 28, 2001.
“Bryant was a little rusty, and you could tell because a lot of his shots were short,” said DeRozan, who grew up in Los Angeles watching Kobe. “We were going against him his first game back, but he’s going to get it going again and he’ll be back to the old Kobe.”
The Raptors had 11 players available after holding out Gay, center Aaron Gray and forward Quincy Acy, all set to head to the Kings in exchange for Greivis Vasquez, Patrick Patterson, John Salmons and Chuck Hayes.
The crowd roared again the first time Bryant touched the ball, and he found Robert Sacre underneath the hoop for an assist on Los Angeles’ first possession. With his wife, Vanessa, and 2 daughters sitting courtside, Bryant hit a free throw for his first point in the second quarter, followed shortly by an 8-foot, double-pump, left-handed bank shot for his first field goal.
Bryant added a signature 22-foot face-up jumper later in the period, but also showed clear signs of rust and unfamiliarity with his new teammates.
“We are going to have to carry Kobe a little bit, because of course he’s not 100 percent, not in game shape,” said Xavier Henry, who scored 17 points. “It’s going to be fun. It’s a long year, and he’s just getting back.”
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press