Kobe says Durant fouled him on potential game-tying attempt
The Black Mamba wasn't happy after Friday's loss.
Although it was a lopsided match-up on paper, the cellar-dwelling Los Angeles Lakers pushed the Oklahoma City Thunder to the brink thanks to a 44-point outing from Lou Williams.
It was a close game throughout, and Lakers head coach Byron Scott turned to Kobe Bryant down two with 13 seconds left. Bryant crossed up and drove by Kevin Durant, but he failed to make a short fadeaway that would have tied the game.
📺 The stop at the end. Kevin Durant on defense. #NBAVote pic.twitter.com/e0d28aFZ2r
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) January 9, 2016
Bryant insisted after the game that he was fouled on the play - although he's not going to make a big stink about it as he might have done in his earlier years.
Did Kobe get fouled on his last shot? "I did. It is what he is," he said. "He hit me right on the forearm after the release."
— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) January 9, 2016
There's certainly contact on the play, but the more curious question is why Scott didn't turn to Williams on the last possession. After all, Williams had scored 23 in the fourth quarter up until that point.
Either way, the result is final and the Lakers were saddled with their 30th loss of the year. At least Bryant and Durant will have something to discuss in their next dinner date.