Los Angles Lakers already without Luke Walton and Kwame Brown couldn’t afford another miss - though their expectations were shattered when guard Kobe Bryant’s request for an early hearing was turned down by the NBA.
The NBA for a game suspended Bryant for his intentional strike to Manu Ginobili’s face (San Antonio Spurs’ guard) - following the absence of the aforementioned, the New York Knicks stanched a win.
This is Lakers third straight defeat of the season - Eddy Curry got in 27 while Stephon Marbury scored 22 points for the Knicks cause. The game did go down to the wire but Knicks somehow managed to stick on to their advantage and won the game at 99-94.
Kobe’s suspension was a blow for both the Lakers and their fans, he could have played against the Knicks but the NBA turned down his appeal for immediate hearing - Bryant’s suspension is without pay and it could cost him about $161,000.
Kobe is likely to be permitted into the arena on Wednesday.
Read: Sportsillustrated
