Russell Westbrook logs first Lakers 30-point half since Kobe Bryant's last game
Russell Westbrook did something no Laker has done since Kobe Bryant on Friday.
Westbrook poured in 30 points in the second half, giving him the first 30-point half by a Laker since Bryant did it in his famous 60-point final game back in 2016. It wasn't enough to fuel Los Angeles to victory, however, as the Lakers lost 117-114 to Charlotte.
The first half was much more of a slow burn for Westbrook, who scored just five points over the first 24 minutes. The Lakers, who were without LeBron James and Anthony Davis, suffered as a result and went into halftime down by 16.
Los Angeles flipped the script in the third, clawing back from as big as a 20-point deficit to end the third trailing only by two. Westbrook scored 14 points in the third and dished out three assists, and at one point cut the deficit to one with a nice and-one layup.
Westbrook sat for the first few minutes heading into the fourth, but checked back in before long and started making a difference -- especially down the stretch. He had eight points in the fourth with just over two minutes left, then went nuclear.
With two minutes left, he made a layup. The next time down, he drilled a three with 1:22 left. Then after the clock went under a minute, he got a screen, set his feet, and nailed a deep pull-up three to make it a one-possession game and send Hornets owner Michael Jordan into a worried expression.
After Carmelo Anthony blocked a shot by Charlotte, Westbrook drove to the rim in an attempt to make the lead even smaller, but saw his own shot get swatted by Miles Bridges. Stanley Johnson followed with an offensive rebound and a successful layup, and LaMelo Ball hit only one of two free throws the next time down to give Los Angeles a chance to tie it or win it with under 10 to play.
Westbrook inbounded the ball then took it right back before isolating himself on Bridges. He dribbled the clock down, then stopped and put up a three; unfortunately, he couldn't keep his second-half magic going, and the shot banged off the rim. The Hornets hit one more free throw before the clock ran out and Charlotte won.
The Lakers are now 24-26 and remain firmly on the edge of the playoff picture in the Western Conference. Westbrook is averaging 18.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 7.6 assists per game.
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