When Two Hot Scorers

WHEN TWO HOT SCORERS go one-on-one, a shoot-out can occur. During the 2000 NBA basketball season, the Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant and the Golden State Warriors’ Antawn Jamison matched shooting sprees.

The Lakers visited Golden State in Oakland. In his previous game, Jamison had totaled 51 points against the Seattle Supersonics, and Los Angeles was determined not to allow a repeat.

But Jamison’s hot hand continued, hitting 8-of-12 shots in the first half as the Warriors took a 63–57 lead. Bryant answered with 17 third-quarter points to key a 21–6 run and put the Lakers in front 92–82. Trailing 104–95, Golden State closed with a 12–3 burst, leaving the game knotted 107–107 at the end of regulation.

With six seconds left in overtime and Los Angeles trailing 124–122, Horace Grant missed a layup, and Jamison ripped the rebound away from Bryant. Golden State’s Bob Sura drew a foul and hit a single free throw. Bryant had a final opportunity, but his long three-pointer fell short as the Warriors won 125–122.

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POINT Bryant and Jamison went basket for basket in overtime with Bryant scoring 12 of the Lakers’ 15 points, and Jamison hitting 8 of the Warriors’ 18. The duo each finished with 51 points, the first time opposing players totaled over 50 points each since December 14, 1962. In that Warrior-Laker matchup, Wilt Chamberlain netted 63 for Golden State and Elgin Baylor scored 50 for Los Angeles.

With the five-minute overtime added to the 48-minute game, the teams played a total of 53 minutes. A total of 51 points averages to nearly one point a minute. Bryant and Jamison both worked every moment of the game to try to earn their team a victory.

In athletics, we play to win. A good record means success. In our Christian life we also want to strive for victory, but winning means having a good name in God’s eyes. When we win God’s favor, then we’re truly successful.

GOAL! How do you think you can win God’s favor? Write down some ideas.