Pop on Kobe's big San Antonio finish: 'It's like watching Michael'
Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant continued his resurgence Friday in his farewell to San Antonio with a 16-point third quarter that had Spurs guard Tony Parker recalling old playoff battles and coach Gregg Popovich remembering a past great while watching the retiring Bryant go to work.
The Spurs pulled out the 106-102 victory to keep their home record unscathed at 28-0. The Lakers, who have been playing better of late, were trying to win three consecutive games for just the second this season.
Bryant finished with 25 points, although he did not have good night shooting, going 9-for-28 overall and 4-for-14 from 3-point range. But in that turn-back-the-clock third quarter, he was 6-for-12 and 3-for-6 from beyond the arc, with all three coming in succession, plus a pair of assists that pushed the Lakers to an 81-79 lead.
Before the game, the Spurs organization paid tribute to Bryant with this video that ended up foreshadowing another inspiring performance by the Mamba:
Afterward, Parker told reporters that the tightness of the game, and the energy of the crowd made it feel just like old times:
Bryant's had a number of big moments in San Antonio. Now that he's played his final game there, here's a look back at some of his biggest moments in the Alamo City.
