Kobe Bryant’s behind-the-backboard shot highlighted a 26-point performance Sunday at Staples Center as the Lakers routed the Oklahoma City Thunder, 101-85.
The NBA champions are 10-3 after beating the Thunder for an 11th consecutive time.
Bryant brought the sellout crowd to its feet late in the first quarter when he drove the baseline against rookie guard James Harden, ran out of room and made a desperation fadeaway jumper over the top of the backboard while hanging in the air as his momentum carried him out of bounds near the Lakers’ bench.
At one time that sort of shot was illegal, but the NBA changed the rule.
“I was aware that the rule was changed and that you could do that,” Bryant said. “It was just lucky. We had a rabbit’s foot on. I thought I was going to get a three-point play. It seemed like an obvious call to me — when the guy just hip-checks you to try to push you out of bounds. I just tried to get enough height on it so that it cleared the board. It was like a putt.”
“You see him do things just fooling around with all kinds of shots in practice that you won’t normally see,” teammate Lamar Odom said. “But you expect the impossible, because he’s not scared to take any shot from anywhere on the court.
“So that’s why that’s the result. It’s never a bad shot to him. That’s his mentality. He’s not afraid to shoot it. He understands touch, getting the ball up and staying focused. His concentration is incredible.”
Andrew Bynum had 25 points and nine rebounds and Pau Gasol, playing his second game since returning from a hamstring strain, added 15 points, seven rebounds and six assists.
“We played against the best team in basketball,” Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. “We didn’t handle their physical toughness. They got into us, we set the offense too far out and turned the ball over. They capitalized on every mistake, and that’s what they do. Anytime you play the Lakers, it’s a humbling position to be in.”
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