Kobe Bryant (right) of Los Angeles Lakers looks to get around Marcus Morris of the Detroit Pistons during their NBA match in Los Angeles on Sunday. (AFP)

AFP/New York


New York forward Kevin Seraphin paid tribute to his French homeland with an inspired performance on Sunday, helping the Knicks to a 95-87 win over New Orleans just two days after Friday’s attacks in Paris.
The 26-year-old Seraphin scored 12 points while sporting a “Paris” haircut with the image of the Eiffel Tower and a peace sign shaved on his scalp. Seraphin, who was born in Cayenne, French Guiana, made the most of his 13 minutes on the floor in front of a crowd of 19,800 at Madison Square Garden.
“I just wanted to do something creative, something different,” said Seraphin regarding his haircut, “not just put something on my shoes. I had no time to get a tattoo or anything, so I just wanted to do something creative. I got it done this (Sunday) morning. I got up early and my barber came over and we just did it. It took about an hour.”
Seraphin was acquired by New York over the summer as a free agent after spending five years with the Washington Wizards. His parents live in Paris and he owns a home in the southern part of city.
The Knicks were led by forward Carmelo Anthony’s 29 points and 13 rebounds, but it was Seraphin and fellow reserve, point guard Langston Galloway, who had the clutch performances. Galloway scored 15 points, eight in the decisive fourth quarter that allowed the Knicks to win just their second home game of the season.
“He (Seraphin) gets the game ball,” said Anthony. “He deserved it. He was ready. He was a big part of our run that we made in the second half.
“To see him and what he is dealing with emotionally and mentally, be prepared today when his number was called was big.”
The Pelicans have lost three in a row and nine of 10 to begin the season. They are winless in six road games.
The Knicks began the fourth quarter on a 16-7 run to take an 82-72 lead with 6:35 to play. Galloway scored six points in the surge and Seraphin contributed four.
Seraphin came off the Knicks’ bench in the third quarter and scored six key points to help New York to a 68-65 lead. His hook shot gave New York a 66-60 lead with 2:06 left in the quarter and his jumper with 14 seconds to go provided the three-point cushion going into the fourth quarter.
“He (Seraphin) has been working hard to keep himself in shape even though he hasn’t played a lot of minutes,” said Knicks coach Derek Fisher. “We felt like he was active enough and energetic enough to give us a punch.”

Kobe guides Lakers past misfiring Pistons

Forward Kobe Bryant compiled 17 points, nine assists and eight rebounds as the Los Angeles Lakers snapped a four-game losing skid with a 97-85 victory over the Detroit Pistons at Staples Center on Sunday.
Guard Jordan Clarkson also had 17 points for Los Angeles (2-8) as Bryant made just 6-of-19 shots from the floor but was effective in involving his team mates.
Guard Nick Young came off the bench to score 13 points for the Lakers, whose only other victory was over the Brooklyn Nets. Center Roy Hibbert chipped in 12 points and seven rebounds.
Despite suffering a woeful start to the new season, the Lakers defeated the Pistons for the seventh consecutive time and the 10th time in the past 11 meetings.
Reserve guard Spencer Dinwiddie scored 17 points for the Pistons (5-5). Center Andre Drummond extended his streak of double-doubles to 10 in a row with 17 points and 17 rebounds, but he and the Pistons saw their losing streak reach four games.
Los Angeles was clinging to a 78-74 lead after a dunk by Drummond on an alley-oop pass from Reggie Jackson with 7:28 remaining but the Lakers scored seven consecutive points, starting with a three-pointer by Bryant with 3:44 left.
That sealed the outcome as Detroit got no closer than eight the rest of the way. The Lakers led by as many as 11 in the first half before taking a 48-44 lead at the break. They held the Pistons to 39.6 percent shooting while making 43.2 percent of their shots. The Lakers also had the edge in free throws, making 12-of-18 (66.7 percent) attempts to only two of three for the Pistons. The teams entered the final period tied at 66-66.
Overall, Los Angeles converted 41.3 percent of its shots compared to only 36.5 percent for Detroit. Both teams struggled from behind the three-point stripe. The Lakers made just six of 19 (31.6 percent) to 25.9 percent (seven of 27) for the Pistons. The Lakers prevailed despite committing 16 turnovers to 12 for the Pistons.   
The Lakers were also among the teams around the NBA to hold a moment of silence remembering victims of the Paris attacks. The team also held a pre-game ceremony honouring the Americans who helped thwart a terror attack on a train in France in August.
One of the men recognized, US Air Force Airman Spencer Stone, said Friday’s events in the French capital brought home the importance of his actions on the train. “It makes me realize even more what could have happened if we weren’t able to do what we did that day,” he said.
Another of the train heros, Anthony Sadler, was thrilled to meet Lakers star Bryant. “That’s my favourite player and we just got to meet him. I’m star-struck right now,” said Sadler, who got to see the Lakers down the Detroit Pistons 97-85.
Elsewhere, Derrick Favors returned to his hometown of Atlanta and led the Utah Jazz to a 97-96 victory over the Hawks. Favors scored 23 points and pulled down eight rebounds, and while he enjoyed playing in front of a hometown crowd, he was even happier to have Utah’s French center Rudy Gobert back from injury.
“It was awesome having Rudy back,” Favors said. “I got to move back to (power forward) and he gets to move back to (center). I can do my thing on offense and he could do his thing. It was great to have him back.”
Minnesota forward Kevin Garnett played 24 minutes in the Timberwolves’ 114-106 loss to the
Memphis.