LOS ANGELES -- Kobe Bryant seemed especially focused Sunday.
In fact, Los Angeles Lakers coach Byron Scott noted that Sunday marked the first time in a while that Bryant was "dead serious" for an entire game.
"If you guys were watching his body language, watching his facial expressions, he wasn't joking around tonight," Scott said. "He wasn't smiling with other opponents. He wasn't talking a lot."
That's because, of course, Bryant was facing the Lakers' most bitter rival, the Boston Celtics, one final time.
The Celtics came out on top, 107-100, at Staples Center in what was Bryant's 44th game against the Celtics, which counting the regular-season and playoffs is his most against any Eastern Conference foe.