Kobe Bryant missed the foul shot, putting the game in the hands of his buddy and former Lakers teammate Caron Butler.
Bryant did make some amends as Butler’s chance was developing. Certain that Butler would launch the shot instead of pass, Bryant literally pushed teammate Jordan Farmar, who was closer to Butler, to get over there with some help defense for Trevor Ariza. Farmar was able to get near Butler as he was hoisting a 3-pointer that missed.
The nearly blown fourth-quarter lead spurred Phil Jackson to say he would probably turn to Bryant and other veterans more in the future fourth quarters — at least in road games. Bryant was hardly a dominant closer in this game, struggling with his shot on a 5-for-17 shooting night from the field. Bryant was 0 for 5 from the field in the fourth until hitting a clutch 12-foot banker with 24.6 seconds left for a three-point Lakers lead.
Jackson absolved Bryant, saying he had every reason to believe he could sit out the fourth quarter with the second unit holding a 19-point lead at one point. So it was hard for Bryant to tap back into his focus, too.
“Mentally, he probably checked out,” Jackson said of Bryant.
The Lakers spent the night in Washington and will fly home Saturday and take a day off from practice.
