The Los Angeles Lakers were on the verge of making franchise history on Tuesday night as they entered the game losing ten consecutive games and one more loss would have been an all-time low for the franchise. However, behind the power of Kobe Bryant and his late game heroics, the Lakers were able to trump the Minnesota Timberwolves, 119-115.
Bryant finished the night with a season-high 38 points and he was able to hit seven of his 11 three-point attempts. It was a vintage Kobe performance and when the team needed him the most, the 20-year veteran was able to come through in the clutch.
The win also saw great performances from the other players, including D’Angelo Russell and Julius Randle. After the victory, Bryant talked to the media and shared the advice he gave Russell, via Lakers Nation reporter Serena Winters:
Kobe on what he's telling D'Angelo: "It's not about the outside, it's about you. It's about your game. That's stuff that you can control."
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) February 3, 2016
At this point, Russell is still coming off the bench for the Lakers and it is unclear if he will get back into the starting lineup. The rookie from Ohio State finished the night with 18 points to go along with three rebounds and three assists. Although he only saw about 27 minutes of play, he made the most out of his time on the court with a solid stat line.