The Los Angeles Lakers snagged their first victory of the 2015-16 season Friday night in Brooklyn, with a 104-98 win. Los Angeles and Brooklyn both entered the game winless, but luckily the Lakers were able to make timely plays in the fourth quarter to come out on top.
— What will Kobe Bryant make this season? Find out here! —
The key to the Lakers success was undoubtedly their defensive presence, which was anchored by Metta World Peace. Although World Peace did not stuff the stat sheet, he was able to give the Lakers a much needed boost on the defensive end. After the game, Kobe Bryant praised World Peace and what he meant for the team in their road victory, via Lakers Nation reporter Serena Winters:
Kobe to @LakersReporter post-game: “Metta made all the difference in the world…raises the play of everybody on the floor defensively.”
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) November 7, 2015
World Peace finished the game with a plus/minus of +12 in just under 17 minutes of play. He has already become a leader for the Lakers on and off the court, and the other players feed off the energy he brings on a daily basis.
The Lakers will now cross the East River for their lone appearance at Madison Square Garden. Their Sunday afternoon matchup may be Kobe’s last time at the Garden, so he will be determined to help the Lakers with their second consecutive win of the young season.
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