Sports
NBA: Bryant Shoots Down Rockets
Kobe Bryant scored 41 points to guide the Los Angeles Lakers to a 103-102 overtime victory at the Houston Rockets.
Andrew Bynum made three successive free throws for the NBA champion Lakers (4-1) in the extra session, including one that broke a 102-102 tie with 24 seconds remaining.
“We have experience in winning games and toughing it out,” Los Angeles forward Lamar Odom said.
“Kobe did a great job of taking over the game offensively and Bynum dominated the game with his rebounding.”
Bynum finished with 17 points and 17 rebounds while the Rockets had six players in double figures, Carl Landry leading the home team with 20.
Former Rockets’ forward Ron Artest scored a three-pointer that put the Lakers up 92-89 with 30 seconds remaining before Houston’s Trevor Ariza, who helped the Lakers to last season’s NBA title, answered with his own three-pointer to force overtime.
“It was poetic justice that both (players) had a chance to make big shots,” said Lakers coach Phil Jackson. “I thought we had the game in hand (with Artest’s shot). It was a great game.”
Bryant, the MVP of last season’s NBA Finals, made 15-of-30 shots from the field in his 98th career 40-point effort.
The Lakers trailed by seven early in the fourth before Bryant made 10 points in a row for his team. In overtime he twice put the Lakers ahead with jump shots and tallied six points in the extra session.
Houston’s (3-2) Ariza had 15 points and nine rebounds while Chuck Hayes had 14 points and 14 rebounds. Luis Scola finished with 16 and 13.
The Bayelsa State government, yesterday, announced that the marathon will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
The inaugural race is owned by the Bayelsa State Government and will be organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited, a sports management company.
Under the theme “The Reveal,” the race represents a bold unveiling of Bayelsa’s immense human and cultural potential to the international community, inviting the world to witness the resilience, grit, and talent rooted in the heart of the Niger Delta.
According to the organisers, the race will be flagged off at 9:30 a.m., at the Opolo Roundabout, guiding participants through a carefully designed 10-kilometre route that highlights the scenic beauty and vibrant atmosphere of Yenagoa.
The course will culminate at Peace Park Square, where athletes will cross the finish line into a grand celebration of endurance, unity, and community spirit.
To elevate the experience for runners and spectators alike, the finish venue will host a high-energy post-race concert featuring performances from top A-list artistes, blending sport and entertainment in a festival-style atmosphere.
The organisers directed all registered participants to collect their race bibs and kits at the designated Peace Park Square between March 30 and April 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
The race, according to them, is currently on track for World Athletics accreditation, underscoring the commitment of both the Bayelsa State Government and Nilayo Sports Management Limited to delivering an event that meets the highest global standards.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, on Friday continued the Commission’s nationwide appreciation tour with a visit to Abeokuta, where outstanding junior athlete, Majekodunmi Afusat Bisola, was presented with a cheque of N3 million.
The presentation forms part of the NSC’s initiative to recognise and reward exceptional junior athletes who distinguished themselves in 2025 and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s medal haul.
Majekodunmi delivered an impressive run of performances on the track. At the last edition of the National Sports Festival, she stormed to gold in the 400m and the 4x400m relay. She replicated the double triumph at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Junior Championship, in Abeokuta, before emerging as one of the standout stars at the African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola.
Speaking during the presentation, Olopade explained that the Commission deemed it necessary to extend financial appreciation to grassroots athletes after elite performers had earlier received grants running into thousands of dollars.
“A few weeks ago, after paying grants to our elite athletes, we agreed tthere was a need to also appreciate these young, budding talents who made Nigeria proud last year,” he said.
He disclosed that of the 376 medals recorded by Nigerian athletes in 2025, more than 200 were won by grassroots talents, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in youth development.
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