Kobe misses final game against Dirk

LOS ANGELES – Kobe Bryant wanted to play one last game against Dirk Nowitzki.

But his right shoulder wouldn’t cooperate.

Bryant and his Los Angeles Lakers played Nowitzki and his Dallas Mavericks one last time Tuesday night at STAPLES Center. Well, Bryant didn’t actually play because of that sore right shoulder.

But he was disappointed he was unable to go against Nowitzki one more time, especially since the Lakers won’t play the Mavs any more this season.

"I guess from a sentimental competition standpoint,’’ Bryant saying about missing Tuesday’s game against Nowitzki. "But he and I have had a lot of battles and I’m sure we’ll have some more.

"When no cameras are around, we’ll get together. I’ll beat him up.’’

Coach Rick Carlisle has said, upon retirement, Bryant would resurface with some sort of world dominance. Bryant laughed when told of Carlisle’s comments, and then said:

"It’s going to involve me sitting on the beach for awhile and enjoying some big breakfasts.’’

Bryant even laughed when he was reminded of a Feb. 24, 2013 game in Dallas when the Lakers beat the Mavs, 103-99. Bryant finished that game with 38 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists.

A few days before that contest, owner Mark Cuban suggested that the Lakers should consider using the amnesty tag on Bryant. After the game, Bryant took to Twitter and tweeted: "Amnesty THAT!’

On Tuesday, Bryant said of Cuban: "He text me right after the game. He said, ‘Dude, that’s like the sweetest tweet I’ve ever seen.’ ‘ ‘

But was it the "sweetest tweet’’ Bryant has ever tweeted?

"I’ve had some pretty good sarcastic ones in the past,’’ he said. "That’s probably up there, though.’’

Bryant also reminisced about the Dec. 20, 2005 game when he personally outscored the Mavs, 62-61, after the third quarter. In that game Bryant was 18-of-31 from the field, 4-of-10 from 3-point range and 22-of-25 from the free throw line.

"I was in such a groove. I felt like I could run all day,’’ Bryant said. "I could see how the game was flowing before it actually happened.

"My shot felt extremely accurate and it was just one of those nights.’’

Cuban remembers that game for another reason.

"That was the game that (referee) Steve Javie called (Mavs coach) Avery (Johnson) a despicable human being and Kobe shot 25 free throws in three quarters,’’ Cuban said. "While it really, really sounded good and looked good, it’s not fair to take anything away from Kobe in this kind of discussion.

"That would be more of a discussion with Steve Javie.’’

Still, it was one of those nights that Bryant – he didn’t even play in the fourth quarter – said he could have scored 80 points.

"Yeah,’’ he said, "it sounds funny when I say it, but yes.’’

As his 20-year career winds to a close in less than three months, the finale of it all hasn’t yet hit Bryant.

"I feel very at peace about it,’’ h said. "I’m just kind of wondering when it’s going to hit – if it is.

"But I feel very at peace with my decision.’’

Dwain Price can be heard every Wednesday from 3-4 p.m. on dfwiradio

This story was originally published January 26, 2016 at 11:27 PM with the headline "Kobe misses final game against Dirk."