Pacers Hang On For Win, Bryant To Retire

Kobe Bryant drained a 3-pointer with 11 seconds left in a one-point game, and the Lakers' crowd roared with a mix of excitement and nostalgia for the transcendent moments of its beloved star's now-finite career.

Bryant then shot an airball on a potential tying 3-pointer with 6 seconds to play, and everybody was reminded why Kobe is ready to walk away from basketball in the spring.

Bryant scored 13 points on 4-of-20 shooting after declaring he will retire at the end of the season, and the Indiana Pacers hung on to send Los Angeles to its sixth consecutive defeat, 107-103 Sunday night.

Bryant overcame another poor shooting night with two big late jumpers that reflected his vintage offensive skills. He still couldn't overcome Paul George, who scored the Pacers' final 11 points in the last 1:27 to finish with 39.

Bryant's quick-release 3-pointer from straightaway trimmed the lead to 104-103 for the Pacers, who had been up 22 in the second half. Lakers fans dared to dream of a storybook finish to a night that began with each fan receiving a letter from Bryant, thanking them for 20 years of support.

But after the Lakers got the ball back with a three-point deficit, Bryant's airball only underlined the worst shooting season of his career -- and a reason he won't look back when he's done.

"I've known for a while," Bryant said. "A decision like this, you can't make that decision based on outside circumstances. It has to be an internal decision, and finally I've decided to accept that I can't actually do this anymore, and I'm OK with that. It takes a weight off my shoulders and everybody else's."

Sunday, November 29 Scoreboard

Charlotte 87, Milwaukee 82

Los Angeles 107, Minnesota 99    
    
Brooklyn 87, Detroit 83

Orlando 110, Boston 91

Phoenix 107, Toronto 102

Memphis 92, Philadelphia 84

Houston 116, New York 111 (OT)

Indiana 107, Los Angeles 103

Monday, November 30 Schedule (All Times Central)

Houston at Detroit, 6:30 p.m.

Boston at Miami, 6:30 p.m.

Oklahoma City at Atlanta, 7 p.m.

San Antonio at Chicago, 7 p.m.

Denver at Milwaukee, 7 p.m.

Golden State at Utah, 8 p.m.

Dallas at Sacramento, 9 p.m.

Portland at Los Angeles, 9:30 p.m.