This April 13, 2016, twenty minutes before the interval, the Salt Lake City players learn that they will not play in the playoffs with the Rockets victory. Clearly, this last match is for butter, and more than ever, this Lakers – Jazz has the appearance of a jubilee for the late Kobe Bryantwhose “Last Dance” drags on.
After an inevitable and beautiful series of tributes orchestrated by Magic Johnson, the match begins and Kobe Bryant takes the first shot of the game for the Lakers, too short. The second one too, too long this time. He snatches the ball from the hands of Gordon Hayward on the other side and tries his luck in penetration but misses his lay-up, then another shot and the Lakers wait five minutes to score their first basket (6-2).
A complicated start to the match
Kobe Bryant misses his 5th shot but against Trevor Booker and finally scores on the counter-attack to the delight of the Staples Center. He brings the Lakers back to level at the same time: 6-6 after 7 minutes. He immediately follows up with a shot at the head of the racket, then penetration with the foul!
The match is on, Kobe Bryant too: he hits his 4th shot in a row in the corner and his 5th in transition behind the arc. The Staples Center is standing, the Lakers are in front, and Kobe has already shot 11 times in 9 minutes, for 12 points. At the end of the possession, he gets the foul and three free throws, which he returns. He missed his next two attempts behind the arc and after 12 minutes, Utah led 21-19 thanks to a good Raul Neto.
The match resumes its “normal” course without Kobe Bryant, resting on the bench. The Lakers are clumsy but remain in contact after 7 minutes (33-29). The moment chosen by Byron Scott to put number 24 back on the field, who immediately misses a complicated 3-point shot in the corner.
He approaches the circle again to score his first shot in the 2nd quarter, and returns the next one behind the arc to keep LA at -6 (43-37). Kobe no longer scores a basket at the end of the half but shoots a few free throws and launches a counterattack in “showtime” mode concluded by Julius Randle. If the scoreboard has little importance this evening, a close score could have made the last minutes of the “Black Mamba” on the floors more delicious. By playing seriously in this special atmosphere, Jazz leads by 15 points at the break (57-42). The king of the evening is enjoying himself with already 20 shots attempted and 22 points on the clock.
Kobe Bryant brings the Lakers back into the game
The most watched man remained on the field at the start of the second half and scored 6 points in 53 seconds! The Lakers are back in the match and the gap is back below 10 points. Kobe makes an airball on his 27th attempt but catches up once again with penetration. Jordan Clarkson steals the show with a 360° counter-attack but Kobe returns a baseline fadeaway then a winning shot to bring the Californians to -5 after 6 minutes (64-59). In the midst of the Staples Center, “Kobe, Kobe” gives way to “Defense, Defense”. The “franchise player” holds his 431st career match with more than 30 points at the end of the quarter, with 37 units at 14/34. Will it go up to 50? Byron Scott responds in an interview: ” We will try. »
With the Lakers at -9 at the start of the last quarter of Kobe's career, the latter has the opportunity to be decisive for his final strides on the NBA floors.
Utah starts the quarter seriously to quickly take up to 14 points in advance, but number 24 brings LA back to -9 on a winning shot in transition and becomes the 5th player in history to score 40 points more than 37 years. Quin Snyder takes a timeout but the “Black Mamba” bites again from afar. His teammates put on a show with a huge counter from Tarik Black followed by an alley-oop, to come back to within 5 lengths of the Jazz (85-80).
“Mamba Out!” »
A very clean Jordan Clarkson reduced the gap to 3 units 6 minutes from time. Kobe Bryant continues at mid-distance to reach 45 points. But on a miss on the counterattack followed by a big dunk from Trevor Booker, he saw the Jazz widen the gap to +9 again, less than 4 minutes from the end.
Kobe Bryant scores once again in penetration to get closer to 50 points. It is now clear to everyone: he wants this brand, and will have it. Two free throws later, he is at 49… and finally 51, then 53! The Lakers are -4 at 80 seconds, and -1 one minute from the buzzer on a winning shot from the “Black Mamba”!
Shelvin Mack misses his attempt from afar, ball for Kobe Bryant who scores to get back in front in a crazy atmosphere! Coming out of the timeout, Trey Lyles misses his shot and Utah sends the hero of the evening to the free-throw line, who breaks the 60-point mark! Gordon Hayward misses his layup, Jordan Clarkson dunks on the other side of the court to close the game.
Kobe Bryant can leave the Staples Center to cheers and he takes the microphone to say goodbye: “ You know, I wonder how these twenty years could have passed so quickly. It's crazy. This is completely crazy. We've had our ups and downs, but the most important thing is that we've stayed together all this time. » Before releasing his famous “Mamba Out”, he cannot help but ironically about his almost unreal performance: “ For 20 years I was told 'pass the ball!', and for my last one they shouted at me 'don't pass it!' »
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
