The night began with many in the crowd of 18,076 at Target Center cheering for Kobe Bryant. It ended with Bryant, on the bench, cheering in vain for his young Los Angeles Lakers teammates.
One chapter ended on a night when so much of the NBA’s future shined.
Wednesday was the last time Bryant, a star for two decades, would play on Minnesota soil. That’s why there were so many Lakers jerseys in the stands, why one young fellow was seen with a likeness of Bryant carved into the hair on the back of his head. Why late, as the Lakers were rallying to force overtime, the crowd chanted “We want Kobe.