Category: NBA (Page 586 of 595)

A month after scoring 62 points on the Dallas Mavericks, Kobe Bryant is at it again. Last night, he blew up for 81 points in a 122-104 win against the Toronto Raptors at the Staples Center. His performance was second only to Wilt Chamberlin’s 100-point performance in 1962.

Astoundingly, the Raptors had two more assists than the Lakers (20-18) which means that Kobe was doing most of his work off the dribble. Bryant shot 28-46 (.609) from the field, including 7-13 from long range. He also hit 18 of his 20 free throw attempts. In short, he was simply unstoppable.

More importantly (maybe?), the Lakers won the game.

He claims he was defending his family. The NBA claims they took that into account, suspending Antonio Davis for five games.

“We have made it plain to our players and our fans that players may not enter the spectator stands, no matter the provocation, and that violations of this policy will be treated with the utmost seriousness,” Jackson said. “We have concluded, however, that Antonio’s actions were the result of his belief that his family members required his immediate assistance, and have taken those mitigating circumstances into account in setting the length of the suspension.”

I think the suspension is too long, given the circumstances. He didn’t throw any punches, he didn’t attempt to hurt anyone in any discernable manner. He thought his wife was in trouble and he went into the stands to defend her.

Knicks forward Antonio Davis climbed into the stands Wednesday, but not to beat innocent fans.

“I saw my wife being threatened,” Davis said in a statement released immediately after the game. “I felt I had to act. I did not have enough time to alert security.” Davis did not elaborate on why he ascended about 10 rows of seats to reach his wife in the stands. There was no physical confrontation after he got there, but several people were pointing and shouting for a few moments before security arrived and Davis was ejected.

I’m sure this move raised a few thousand eyebrows in the United Center, but I have no problem with his explanation. In fact, it’s refreshing to see a professional athlete have this type of concern for another human being.

The Knicks lost to the Bulls in overtime, 106-104.