WATCH: Kobe Bryant’s Lakers Outlast Anthony Davis and the Pelicans

For the second game in a row, Kobe Bryant put on a vintage performance, leading the Los Angeles Lakers over the New Orleans Pelicans 99-96 Thursday.

Bean finished with 27 points and 12 rebounds, shutting the door on the Pels late in the fourth quarter with a clutch three-pointer.

Anthony Davis scored a game-high 39 points and snatched 11 boards for the losing side.

Per the LA Times:

He was dunked on for the first time in forever, too late to stop Ryan Anderson from jamming on him late in the fourth quarter. […] But Bryant had his revenge, drilling a long three-pointer and wagging his index finger at Pelicans fans who had heckled him a minute earlier. It came as the shot clock wound down with 58.4 seconds left, giving the Lakers a 98-92 lead.

 

Bryant had 38 points two days earlier against Minnesota and a strong double-double against New Orleans. Whaaat? […] “I’m as puzzled by it as you are,” he said, laughing. “I don’t know what to tell you. Twenty years and all these injuries, it’s tough. I just try to stay with it.”

 

He had a bad memory here last year, sustaining a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder after a dunk. He was done for the season. […] “It felt like I kind of exorcised my demons a little bit [Thursday],” he said. “I was thinking about the last time I was here. I wanted to get back out on this court and play and play well.”