For the first time in 28 games, spanning eight months, the Sixers (1-18) won a game, 103-91 over Kobe Bryant and the Lakers (2-15). The Sixers got their fourth quarter lead, as they had in five of their six games on the road, but they didn't let it go this time, playing stellar defense down the stretch and limiting turnovers when it mattered most. With plenty of storylines surrounding the game, including Jahlil Okafor's recent off-court issues and Kobe Bryant's retirement announcement, the only one that matters today is that number in the Sixers win column. By beating the Lakers, the Sixers avoided the worst start in NBA history.
Philadelphia was led by Robert Covington, who scored 21 points and and both Jerami Grant and Nerlens Noel, who returned for the first time in two games, tallied 14 points. Noel also added nine rebounds while Grant had four blocked shots. Here's reaction from the Sixers and Lakers on the eventful night that also included recognition of Sixers great, Moses Malone:
Brett Brown on his young players' reaction to Kobe's hot start…
“I don’t know if you saw the reaction of our young guys, but when Kobe started the way he did you could see a youthful smile on Jerami (Grant) and Isaiah (Canaan),” Sixers coach Brett Brown said. “You forget that Jahlil (Okafor) wasn’t even born when Kobe started his career. Youth all over the place and starstruck watching Kobe Bryant.” [CSNPhilly.com]
Brett Brown on the process to getting to their first win…
“I'm proud that they stay together, that they truly do knock out good days, and we do believe that they will add up,” Brown said. “I'm pleased for the city. We don't want this streak continuing. We were pleased to come in here and get a win for our fans. They deserve it. Obviously, this is a relief on many levels, but we want to get greedy.” [CSNPhilly.com]
“I think the team is a team. I think we haven’t blinked and reacted to the obvious place that we’re in. I’m pleased for the city. We don’t want this streak continuing. We were pleased to come in here and get a win for our fans. They deserve it. We’re going to get greedy. We want a little bit more.“ [Sixers.com]
Kobe Bryant on his final game, growing up in Philadelphia…
“It’s funny because growing up here, playing basketball here and coming back here as a Laker, I brought my Philly attitude back as a Laker,” Bryant said. “Philly’s like, ‘No, don’t do that.’ It was like two rams, which was marvelous.” [CSNPhilly.com]
"I wasn't expecting that type of reaction — ovation," he said. "Deeply appreciative beyond belief. It was really, really special." [ESPN.com]
Before boarding the Lakers team bus, Kobe Bryant stopped by the Sixers locker room with six powerful words…
“Keep it going, fellas,” he said. “Don’t stop.” [CSNPhilly.com]
Nerlens Noel sums up the win in one word, comments on Kobe…
"Finally," forward Nerlens Noel said.
"It was a little spurt of old-school Kobe," Noel said. [ESPN.com]
Isaiah Canaan on Bryant's final game in Philadelphia…
"Obviously, it was fun to watch," said Isaiah Canaan, who started for the Sixers at point guard and collected 12 points and five assists. "We knew he was going to come out with that much energy. He's an entertainer, so he came out and tried to give the fans something to see. We were just waiting for him to start missing."
"I'm not gonna lie, when he came out like that, I was, like, 'This can't be an 81-(point) night.' That's vintage Kobe. We just tried to make every shot tough for him. He's one of the greatest that ever played this game. He's capable of making those shots." [Philly.com Sports]
The Sixers won't have too much time to celebrate their first win as they travel to New York for a matchup with the Knicks tonight at Madison Square Garden.
