Longtime rivals Kobe Bryant and Raja Bell renewed acquaintances
last night, and there was no love lost between the two after the
Lakers escaped Utah with a close overtime win, behind Bryant’s
40 points. Per the Salt Lake Tribune: “Through four quarters and
a five-minute overtime, Kobe Bryant and Raja Bell fought and
clawed with each other. Bell incurred a technical foul in the
first period. The two pushed and shoved each other at the end of
regulation. The competition reached a fever pitch on more than
one occasion. And then, following the Lakers 90-87 win over the
Utah Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena on Wednesday night, the two
went at it again in their respective locker rooms. First, Bell
weighed in. ‘If he’s going to take 31 shots to get 40, then
that’s pretty much all you can do. Anyone shooting 31 shots
should score 40.’ Bryant had his say as well. ‘He can’t stop me.
He knows that. But he’s good enough to make it interesting.'”