Gordon Hayward Says Jazz Were ‘In Shock’ During Kobe Bryant’s Final Game

Kobe Bryant hadn’t topped 40 points in a game during the 2015-16 season prior to his 60-point farewell explosion against the Utah Jazz on April 13, and Gordon Hayward admitted the gravity of the moment stunned his team.   

In a blog post on his personal website (h/t Pro Basketball Talk.com’s Kurt Helin), the Jazz swingman broke down the events that transpired down the stretch of Kobe’s unforgettable final NBA game as the Lakers came from behind to capture a 101-96 win at Staples Center:

We were trying to win, and for a while there we were. But at the end of the game, in the closing minutes, everything that transpired kind of shocked us, to be honest. We were up double digits for most of the second half, and we led by 10 with about three minutes to go. So when Kobe started hitting shots and the game started to get close, a lot of us were in shock.

It was like being a part of a showcase, or being in a video game. There wasn’t really much normality about it. A guy scored 60 points and took 50 shots. There was something different as far as his aggressiveness. I …

continue reading in source www.bleacherreport.com