USA – Bryant back to old self after return from injury

MEMPHIS (2010 FIBA World Championship for Men) – Team USA star Kobe Bryant returned to the Los Angeles Lakers line-up after missing five games through injury and he was back to his old self, hitting clutch baskets down the stretch including a go-ahead three-pointer in the dying seconds for a 99-98 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.

Bryant, who hadn’t played since 5th February because of a left ankle injury, showed no sign of rust as he went for 32 points and accounted for the visiting team’s last nine points, the last three of which came with 4.3 seconds left to play.

“It’s my responsibility to make plays down the stretch. I enjoy it,” Bryant said.

Few know that better than his team-mate Pau Gasol as well as Pau’s brother and Grizzlies centre Marc. Bryant’s winning basket might have brought back memories of the 2008 Olympic Games final for the two Gasols.

On that day of 23rd August, Spain rallied back in the fourth quarter and got within striking distance in the closing minutes, only for Bryant to complete a timely four-point play that pretty much put an end to the Spaniards’ hopes of a gold medal.

Tuesday night’s loss saw the Grizzlies drop their third game out of five since the season resumed following the All-Star break.

OJ Mayo, a member of the 27-man squad that will represent the USA in international competitions over the next three years, missed a pair of free-throws with 18.8 seconds to play, setting the stage for Bryant’s late heroics.

“I’d love to take those last two free-throws again and make them,” said the Grizzlies guard, who also missed a long jumper at the buzzer that could have given him some redemption.

Revenge might have been a motivating factor for Bryant.

When these two teams last faced each other at the start of the month, he surpassed Jerry West to become the Lakers all-time leading scorer, but the occasion was made bittersweet by the fact that the defending champions lost the game 95-93.

Rudy Gay, another member of the USA’s squad, hit a three-pointer to put the Grizzlies ahead with under 30 seconds remaining and it would prove to be enough. The Lakers had a last chance to win, but Bryant was hounded and forced to pass the ball to Ron Artest, who missed from the corner as time expired.

The 12-time All-Star was not deferring on Tuesday. With the Lakers down 95-90 with three minutes remaining – and having missed five free-throws in a row - Bryant took matters into his own hands, leading up to his winning shot.

FIBA