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Im guessing Kobe will score the most, but Cavs win the game.
Kobe has less of a team behind him and Lebron actually shares the ball.
Cleveland (20-12) at LA Lakers (18-17)
Cleveland (20-12) at LA Lakers (18-17)
Preview - Box Score - Recap
Game Info: 10:30 pm EST Thu Jan 12, 2006
TV: TNT Add to Calendar
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Kobe Bryant has been scoring at one of the most feverish paces in NBA history. Now, he'll square off against one of the few players that might be able to keep up with him offensively.
Two of the NBA's most prolific scorers meet as Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers host LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Bryant scored 41 points in the Lakers' 113-103 loss Wednesday to the Portland Trail Blazers, ending his string of games with at least 45 points at four. Bryant was the first player since Wilt Chamberlain in 1964 to string together that many 45-point performances.
Chamberlain, who scored 45 in nine straight games, is the only player with more than four straight. Elgin Baylor also reached the milestone in December, 1961.
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"Kobe was waiting for his game to get hot and it never happened, and we tried to force the ball into him and it cost us," coach Phil Jackson said.
Bryant, who also had a nine-game streak of 40-point games from Feb. 6-23, 2003, now has 11 40-point games this season and 51 for his career for the Lakers. Among active players with 40-plus point games, Bryant trails only Allen Iverson, who has 67.
Bryant, who has two 50-point games this season and seven in his career, leads the league in scoring at 34.3 points per game. Iverson, who scored 46 points Wednesday against Utah, ranks second with 33.7 points.
James is third with 30.8 points per game. He had 36 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in the Cavaliers' 92-84 loss to the New York Knicks on Tuesday.
James became the first NBA player since Oscar Robertson in 1966 to record at least 30 points, seven rebounds and five assists in seven straight games. His seven straight 30-point games streak is the longest in the league since Tracy McGrady had 14 in a row in 2003.
"That kid is playing great," said New York coach Larry Brown, who coached James on the 2004 U.S. Olympic team. "I don't know how you can guard him. He's getting better and better and better."
However, James didn't get much help from his teammates. The Cavs, who scored just 12 fourth-quarter points, got just 27 points from their other four starters, shot more 3-pointers (28) than free throws (20) and were booed by their home fans.
"I don't think we were ready to play from the opening tip," said James, who has averaged 25.3 points in four career games against the Lakers. "Once you get to the point where every game means the same, where every game you play for 48 minutes, then you become a great team. Right now, we are not."
Guard Damon Jones went 1-for-5 on 3-pointers, and is just 6-for-37 from the arc in his last seven games.
"I'm officially in a slump," Jones said.
The Cavaliers, who have won nine of their last 12, are opening a six-game road trip.
Center Zendon Hamilton signed a 10-day contract with the Cavs on Tuesday, less than one week after they waived him.
Updated on Thursday, Jan 12, 2006 4:11 am EST
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Team Comparison
Team Record Standings PF PA Road/Home Streak L10
Cleveland 20-12 2nd Central / 4th East 99.8 95.7 Road 6-7 Lost 1 7-3
LA Lakers 18-17 3rd Pacific / 7th West 97.1 94.9 Home 8-8 Lost 1 4-6
Cleveland Notes
Jan 10 The Cavaliers struggled from the arc, shooting just 21 percent (6-of-28). Star F LeBron James had an especially rough night from long range, misfiring on all seven of his 3-pointers. ... Cleveland managed just 12 points in the fourth quarter - 16 fewer than they scored in the third period. ... The Cavaliers converted 13 Knick turnovers into 19 points, while New York mustered just 10 points off 12 Cleveland giveaways.
LA Lakers Notes
Jan 12 With Wednesday's loss to the Trail Blazers, the Lakers fell to 6-2 in the first game of back-to-back contests. They are just 2-5 in the second game. ... G KObe Bryant was accidentally hit in the eye by Portland F Ruben Patterson going for a rebound midway through the fourth quarter. Bryant layed on the court for several minutes before returning to the Los Angeles bench, but he did not miss any time.
Im guessing Kobe will score the most, but Cavs win the game.
Kobe has less of a team behind him and Lebron actually shares the ball.
Kobe wins this one unless Eric Snow takes him out.
Kwame Brown will have a 20&10 game against Z.
Has Kwame Brown had a single 20 and 10 game in his career? Until Kobe's streak ends, the Lakers are forced to stand around and watch him try to get his numbers. Cavs win.
The Cavs will win the varsity game, the Spurs will win the JV.
“Kobe was waiting for his game to get hot and it never happened, and we tried to force the ball into him and it cost us,” coach Phil Jackson said".
Kwame had a 30&19 game once. That was against the Queens, but Cleveland's defense is almost as soft.
The Cavs just lost to the Knicks - their annual slump is starting.
The weird thing is, the media and NBA fans (myself included) all agree and think that Kobe shoots too much, but Lamar Odom and the rest of his team-mates don't seem to mind. I posted a quote in another thread from Odom which said something to the affect of "God put Kobe here for us to watch" or something weird like that!
I just read quote today from Bron stating that Kobe's the best player by far....now I truely think that Lebron could be the best ever if he works on the defensive end. With that being said, I say the Lakers win. It will be a fun game to watch. I can't hate a guy like Lebron, he's pretty much a class act and seems to respect the game.
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