<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> All Kobe Bryant was left with at the end of Wednesday night was a nasty gash over his left eye, a three-game losing streak for the Lakers and another agonizing loss at Staples Center. Forget the 45 points Bryant scored, 29 after he took an elbow to the face from Memphis forward Mike Miller early in the third quarter. Or the elbow that Bryant delivered to Miller's chin in the fourth quarter in retaliation. None of that mattered after the Lakers blew a five-point lead with two minutes left in regulation, falling apart yet again at the end of the game, and went on to lose 100-99 in overtime to the Grizzlies. Memphis trailed for nearly all of regulation and only tied the score thanks to two Damon Stoudamire 3-pointers in the last 1:01. The Lakers nearly came back from eight points down in overtime but were left with their seventh loss in 13 home games. It could be added to the list of losses to Chicago, New Jersey and Houston, the Lakers wish they could have back. "Those things balance out if you just stay the course and don't get upset," said Lakers coach Phil Jackson, whose team will play four of its next five games at Staples Center. Bryant had a chance to win with 14.9 seconds left in overtime as he spun past Dahntay Jones and drove to the basket on the Lakers' final possession. But Bryant couldn't get a reverse layup to drop on his 37th and last shot of the night. Center Chris Mihm pulled down the rebound but couldn't convert in traffic around the basket. The Grizzlies were able to win without Eddie Jones or Shane Battier on the floor and despite not scoring in the last 1:34 of overtime. Jackson was particularly upset with the Lakers' play at the end of regulation. Lamar Odom missed a long jumper with 11 seconds left on the shot clock and Jackson trying to take the game into the final minute. "We ended up paying for it, ultimately," Jackson said. "We didn't close the game the right way. The play should have continued on a couple more sequences and we should get something that probably ends on the free throw line with guys shooing a couple of foul shots." The Lakers (15-14) also watched as Devean George, Odom and Bryant each missed the second of two free throws as they went to the line in the last 2:06. The second Stoudamire 3-pointer was devastating, tying the score 88-88. Second-year guard Sasha Vujacic fought through a double screen to stay with Stoudamire, only to bite hard on a pump fake and leave him an open jumper with 28.2 seconds left. "It's hard coming off of a double-screen," Vujacic said. "I shouldn't jump. He made a good move and got me in the air. I was late trying to recover." Bryant had a chance to win at the other end in regulation but missed a jumper over Dahntay Jones with 15.9 seconds remaining. The tone for the night was set early in the third quarter, as Miller swung his left arm on a drive to the basket and connected with Bryant as the superstar guard arrived to help on defense. It opened an inch-long gash and Bryant started bleeding immediately. Bryant departed with trainer Gary Vitti, leading to a couple of shaky possessions for the Lakers, but returned with 7:01 remaining and his team still leading 57-52. Bryant, who needed three stitches after the game, hit three consecutive 3-pointers after returning. He answered any questions about his feelings with 8:24 left in the fourth quarter when he delivered an elbow to Miller's chin. "We have to be aggressive here," Bryant said. "This is our home court. We can't allow guys to come down the middle of the lane and finger-roll the ball. It just can't happen. We have to be more physical, especially here at Staples Center." </div> http://www.dailynews.com/sports/ci_3352099 That sure was a dirty game.
