Lakers Lose To Barcelona In Exhibition Game In Spain

Barcelona beat the NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers 92-88 in an exhibition on Thursday in Spain.

Spanish center Pau Gasol led the Lakers with 24 points but had only one field goal in the second half. His homecoming was spoiled by the Euroleague champion in a game that lived up to the billing of an informal intercontinental showdown.

“You always want to win, but it was an emotional game,” Gasol said. “The fans enjoyed it, and the atmosphere was spectacular. We lost, but when your friends win you have to be happy for them.”

The Lakers blew a 12-point advantage in the second half and were outplayed down the stretch after the game was tied at 72 midway through the fourth quarter.

“They played much better in the fourth quarter,” Lakers coach Phil Jackson said, ruing his team’s turnovers. “We anticipated they would not take a back seat and that they would be very physical. They did a good job doubling Pau in the second half and making him go to the foul line for his points.”

Kobe Bryant played 25 minutes, compared to six on Monday in a loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, as he recovers from knee surgery. Bryant went back into the game with 5:41 remaining in the fourth to join the other starters.

“[The other starters] were going back in anyway and I wanted to go back in and do some more exercise,” Bryant said. “I’ve had maybe three practices since training camp started. My knee was feeling good, my knee was feeling fine. I didn’t have any pain or stiffness, so, when that happens you really got to stretch it out as much as you can and try to get in rhythm as much as you can, so that’s what I wanted to do.”

He scored 15 points but went 2 for 15 from the field and missed two 3-pointers with a chance to tie the game with under a minute to play.

Despite Bryant’s pain-free claims, Jackson said his guard played above his fitness level.

“He is not ready to play. He went out there to show his goodwill for the fans and to support his team,” Jackson said.