Los Angeles Lakers star guard Kobe Bryant struggled early in the 2015–16 National Basketball Association (NBA) regular season, but in their past seven games before Wednesday's 120–85 defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder, he improved with his game.
In the first 17 games of the regular season, Bryant is averaging 15.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per contest.
But in their last seven games before Wednesday's fall to the Thunder, Bryant improved his numbers to 20.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game.
"I just feel good. My legs feel fine. I feel like me. I feel good. I feel like I can control the game. I feel like I can read everything. I can get to the spots I want to get to — not as quickly as I want to get to them. [But] I can get to them," Bryant said following a 111-107 win over the Denver Nuggets last Tuesday, according to ESPN.
Bryant continued his great scoring performance in their home defeat to Oklahoma City as he led the Lakers in scoring with 19 points that came along with one rebound, three assists, and one steal in 28 minutes of action.
However, the 37-year-old franchise star did not have a great shooting night going 7-of-22 from the field, including 2-of-7 from the three-point area.
In the game, the Lakers were left behind after a huge third quarter by the Thunder, where they outscored the hosts 35–15.
"That third quarter, they just blitzed us, man. They got ahead with their athleticism and their speed and their length, and we we couldn't get the game under control," Bryant said, according to the Associated Press.
The loss handed the Lakers a 5–24 record, as they continue to sit at the bottom of the Western Conference standings.
Next for the Lakers is the last game of a two-game home stand as they take on the Los Angeles Clippers on Christmas Day before a three-game road trip.
