Jeremy Lin on Kobe missing final shot: 'I like game winners too'
The Los Angeles Lakers lost, 104-103, to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night after Kobe Bryant missed a late jump shot.
Bryant took the shot with the Lakers trailing by one and less than three seconds remaining.
The ball clanged off the front of the rim, bounced off the backboard and Thunder guard Reggie Jackson grabbed the rebound to seal the win.
After the game, Lakers point guard Jeremy Lin was asked about Bryant's shot. From ESPN.com's Baxter Holmes:
"How many game winners has he hit like that?" Lin asked, referencing Bryant. "I'm obviously rooting for him to hit that shot. I thought it was a good look. It was a very, very hittable shot. That's just a matter of time before he starts hitting those game winners."
Then Lin added, "I like game winners too. I would love to shoot some. But I get it. That guy is kind of the king of game winners. He's going to hit that shot. He'll figure it out. That's why he is who he is."
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Bryant has developed a reputation as a clutch shot-maker. However, as Holmes notes, the Lakers star has missed 12 straight shots in the last five seconds of the fourth quarter or overtime that would have tied the game or given Los Angeles the lead.
Bryant finished the game with nine points on 3-of-15 shooting. Over 26 games this season, he's averaged 24.6 points while shooting a career-low 37.7 percent from the field.
Bryant recently passed Michael Jordan for third place on the NBA's all-time scoring list and has recorded 32,340 points over 18-plus seasons.
Asked afterward why the 36-year-old was given the opportunity to take the final shot instead of Lin, who shot 5-of-7 from the field for 12 points, Lakers coach Byron Scott said, "32,000-plus points," according to Holmes.
The loss dropped the Lakers to 8-18 on the season. Los Angeles plays at the Sacramento Kings (11-15) on Sunday.
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