-
Johnson had little day-to-day responsibilities with the Lakers, but is expected to be much more involved with the Dodgers.
FORBES: One Ownership Lesson For Magic Johnson From Jordan, Lemieux And Ryan
-
But Bryant, an iconic figure with the Lakers, didn't seem to mind.
WSJ: Wait��Stop the Olympics! Howard Is a Laker
-
But Bryant kept the Lakers going with another five straight, including a steal of Gordon that he capped with a fast-break driving finger roll.
NPR: Lakers Beat Hornets 104-96 To Stay In Hunt
-
Coming off a down-to-the-wire win at Dallas the day before, the Lakers wanted to slow down the Nuggets but just couldn't keep up with their younger, more athletic and, yes, better-rested opponents.
NPR: Chandler Leads Nuggets Past Lakers, 119-108
-
They lost that one to the Lakers, but came back the next year with Earl Monroe joining the starting lineup and Willis Reed back from an injury that cost him nearly all of the previous season.
WSJ: Knicks honor 1973 NBA championship team
-
Bryant led the Lakers with 29 points, and his fadeaway jumper with five minutes left cut Denver's lead to 106-99, but the Lakers got no closer.
NPR: Chandler Leads Nuggets Past Lakers, 119-108
-
But even teams such as the Lakers and Bulls will likely have to be more responsible with their spending under the new deal, where repeat offenders are taxed at rates that multiply with each consecutive year they go over the cap.
NPR: Rudy Gay Heads To Toronto In Grizzlies' Makeover
-
But now comes a difficult stretch, with Chicago following Miami into Barclays Center on Friday and the improving Los Angeles Lakers visiting next Tuesday.
WSJ: Nets rout Magic 97-77 for 8th straight home win
-
The Lakers came in with a nine-game regular season winning streak against New Orleans, but when Howard's rim-rattling dunk gave Los Angeles an 8-4 lead, that was the largest lead the Lakers would have until the final seconds.
NPR: Bryant, Lakers Roar Back Against Hornets, 108-102