Kobe Bryant Leads the Lakers to Win Game 1

With 40 points, eight-rebounds and eight-assists, Kobe Bryant led the Lakers to a 100-75 victory over the Orlando Magic in Game One of the NBA Finals at Staples Center last night (June 4). When Bryant said, “I just want it so bad. I just want it really bad,” about the NBA Title, he meant it. Teammate Sasha Vujacic told reporters of Byrant, “We’ve seen that before. He does that when he really wants to get going.” When the Magic briefly held a one-point lead midway through the second quarter, it was clear that Kobe was coursing with emotion. As he said earlier, “You just put everything you have into the game and your emotions kind of flow out of you.” At that point it was on, said the Magic’s Rashard Lewis, “Then Kobe started making his shots, and it was like there was nothing we could do about it.”

Bryant made two jumpers, found Derek Fisher for a three-pointer, made another jumper, found Lamar Odom for a layup, found Pau Gasol for a jumper and made a spinning layup with four second left in the half. Magic rookie Courtney Lee said later, “We did everything we could to stop him. But he would make a shot. And make a shot. And make a shot.” Bryant was unstoppable but was weary of getting cocky too early in the best-of-seven series saying, “We haven’t found anything. It’s one game. No big deal.”

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