Bryant Finds All Lanes Closed

WASHINGTON — For probably the first time this season, Kobe Bryant couldn’t find his jump-shooting stroke or a way to the basket, and once he was hit with a series of fouls, he never really was an offensive factor in the Lakers’ loss on Thursday to the Washington Wizards.

“He ran into a wily old veteran named Mitch Richmond, is what happened,” Laker Coach Phil Jackson said.

With Richmond bodying him up and down the court, Bryant scored a season-low seven points, on two-for-10 shooting, and turned the ball over six times before fouling out.

“I think it was the defense Rich played on Kobe that frustrated him the most,” Jackson said.

Said Bryant: “They did a pretty good job as far as closing down lanes, but I was just trying to find my rhythm. It was tough. . . .

“Richmond did a good job, he’s very deceiving. He did a good job forcing me down to the middle and team closing in and closing off passing lanes, stuff like that.”

*

New Wizard executive Michael Jordan, who hadn’t been to one of his team’s games for weeks, was in attendance Thursday, then visited Jackson, his old Chicago Bull coach, after the game.

He did not speak at length with reporters, but offered some rather sharp views of his team’s victory.

“If they have to wait and have me look over their shoulders,” Jordan said, “they’re not the players that I think should represent this organization.”

Laker guard Ron Harper, Jordan’s old friend from the Bulls, said it wasn’t as if the Lakers lost to a team Jordan has built.

“It’s not Michael’s team yet,” Harper said. “He hasn’t had a chance to put his name on that team yet.”

TONIGHT

at Detroit, 5 PST

Channel 9 (delayed, 6)

* Site--Palace of Auburn Hills.

* Radio--KLAC (570).

* Records--Lakers 53-12, Pistons 32-31.

* Record vs. Pistons--1-0.

* Update--Detroit is 4-1, and has scored more than 100 points in all four victories, since firing coach Alvin Gentry and promoting former assistant George Irvine for the rest of the season.

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TRIPLE PLAYS / The Big 3

Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant and Glen Rice have been the driving force behind the Lakers’ success. How they fared:

O’NEAL

*--*

Thu. Season 40 Points 28.7 12 Rebounds 14.3 2 Assists 3.8

*--*

BRYANT

*--*

Thu. Season 7 Points 22.4 3 Rebound 5.9 7 Assists 4.6

*--*

RICE

*--*

Thu. Season 22 Points 16.1 5 Rebounds 4.0 3 Assists 2.1

*--*

The Top 3

Best records in the NBA:

LAKERS

Record 53-12

Thu. l. Wash., 109-102

Tonight at Detroit

*

PORTLAND

Record 49-16

Thu. l. Minn., 96-92

Sat. at Seattle

*

INDIANA

Record 44-21

Wed. d. Atlanta, 113-107

Tonight vs. Houston