Kobe Bryant Killed In Helicopter Crash

NBA great Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, and seven other people were killed Sunday morning in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, about 30 miles from L.A. He was 41. They were headed to Bryant's Mamba Sports Academy for a basketball tournament, flying in morning fog that was dense enough that the L.A. County Sheriff's Department had grounded its helicopters.

Thousands of fans gathered outside the Staples Center, creating a makeshift memorial, and at NBA games, players paid tribute by holding the ball for 24 seconds, Bryant's jersey number, for a 24-second shot clock violation at the start of their games. 

Current and former players, athletes from other sports, politicians and celebrities reacted in grief and tribute on social media, and a shaken Lebron James wiped at his eyes as he got off the Lakers' plane after it returned to L.A. Less than 24 hours earlier, James had passed Bryant into third place on the NBA's all-time scoring list in a game in Philadelphia.

Bryant's final tweet was to LeBron for doing so, saying: "Continuing to move the game forward (at)KingJames. Much respect my brother." Bryant spent his entire 20-year career with the Lakers and won five championships, in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009 and 2010. He was NBA Finals MVP twice and league MVP in 2008.

National Basketball Association

Sunday, January 26 Scoreboard

Portland 139, Indiana 129

Atlanta 152, Washington 133

Denver 117, Houston 110

Toronto 110, San Antonio 106

Memphis 114, Phoenix 109

Atlanta 152, Washington 133

New Orleans 123, Boston 108

Los Angeles Clippers 112, Orlando 97

New York 110, Brooklyn 97

Monday, January 27 Schedule (All Times Central)

Cleveland at Detroit, 6 p.m.

Orlando at Miami, 6:30 p.m.

San Antonio at Chicago, 7 p.m.

Sacramento at Minnesota, 7 p.m.

Dallas at Oklahoma City, 7 p.m.

Houston a Utah, 8 p.m.