Bryant Unyielding in His Confidence

BOSTON â€”  Long before the final seconds of the Lakers’ 117-115 overtime loss Monday to the New York Knicks, the Lakers’ apparent over-reliance on Kobe Bryant was an issue.

“That’s something we talked about even during the game,� Bryant said. “That’s why I think you guys saw me kind of stepping back, fourth quarter, just being more of a decoy, just letting them play the game. Just let me be a decoy and let them get going and then when I needed to step up and make a big shot, I did.�

Bryant had only three shots in the fourth quarter, although his three-pointer from the top of the arc with 4.4 seconds left sent the game to overtime.

In the final seconds of overtime, Bryant found Luke Walton on the left side of the lane for what would have been about a five-foot attempt. Walton passed back to Bryant, who bobbled the ball because he wasn’t expecting it. Bryant probably would not have had time to shoot if he had caught the ball cleanly.

Bryant said teammates should not be surprised when he feeds them the ball, regardless of time or place.

“They shouldn’t be,� he said. “All year long it’s been one of our themes. They welcome that challenge. If a team collapses on me, I kick it out to them and they’ve got to make the play. That’s just one of those things that we’ve got to kind of roll with.

“We’re a young team. Luke really hasn’t been in that situation before. You just chalk it up as a learning experience. Next time, he’ll make it.�

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The Lakers’ failure to win in Toronto and New York also can be traced to their poor finishes. They were outscored, 10-0, in the final 2:33 of their loss Sunday to the Raptors and were outscored, 6-0, in the final 2:25 of overtime against the Knicks.

“Going to have to win some road games,� Coach Frank Hamblen said. “We’ve come close twice and haven’t been able to do it against teams below .500.�

Sixteen of the Lakers’ final 27 games are on the road.

TONIGHT

at Boston, 4:30 PST

(Ch. 9, delayed, 5:30)

Site -- FleetCenter.

Radio -- 570, 1330.

Records -- Lakers 28-27, Celtics 29-28.

Record vs. Celtics -- 1-0.

Update -- The Celtics continue to lead the Atlantic Division despite a less-than-glamorous record. Forward Antoine Walker, acquired last week from the Atlanta Hawks for Gary Payton, has made an impact in his first two games with the Celtics, averaging 28.5 points and 11.5 rebounds in road victories against the Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz. In their 120-113 overtime victory Sunday against the Suns, the Celtics became the first Eastern Conference team to win in Phoenix this season.