The Associated Press reports: Tuesday night, Kobe Bryant's streak of scoring at least 40 points in a game ended at 9.

The Lakers guard only had 32 points in the Lakers 109-98 victory over their crosstown rival Los Angeles Clippers.

However, Bryant didn't seem too upset after the victory.

"It started to take the focus away from how well we're playing as a team,'' Bryant said. "It's important to put the emphasis on how we're playing as a team. That means the streak is a streak. It's not going to win us any championships.

"The most important thing obviously is playing the game the right way.''

If Bryant had scored 40 points, he would have tied Wilt Chamberlain for the second-longest streak in NBA history.

With the New York Knicks ready to tackle the New Jersey Nets tonight, Knicks guard Latrell Sprewell apparently is ready to seek out Nets coach Byron Scott and get some answers face to face.  Sprewell, according to Frank Isola of the New York Daily News, is upset at comments Scott made last week about his work habits, comments Sprewell says made Scott look "bad."

"I don't hold anything against him," Sprewell said. "I may even ask him why he said it. I'm going to play hard and help us win but it's not going to have anything to do with the comments he made."

When asked if he would like to acquire Sprewell, Scott replied "I don't like guys who are on their own time. Spree comes to practice when he wants to, comes to games when he wants to. I give him credit that he plays hard. But that is a bad example you are setting for the rest of your team."

The comments caught Sprewell by complete surpise, stating he hasn't done anything to Scott to provoke such a verbal assault on himself.  He also said it wasn't something that he would let get to him.

"It wasn't something I was totally offended by," said Sprewell. "He doesn't know me. He hasn't coached me. He doesn't know anything about the way I play and the way I practice. I think the comments make him look bad."

"Frankly, I've never said anything negative about him. For him to come out and try to rip me, it was a little immature. He's a guy that has played before. That's just not something I would expect from a guy like him."

It is not the first time Scott has had some strong comments about the Knicks, back in October questioning New York's decision to play forward Antonio McDyess extended minutes during the preseason.  McDyess, coming off a serious knee injury, suffered another season-ending injury after damaging his kneecap.

When asked about Sprewell, Knicks GM Don Chaney said: "He has a lot of pride, I can say that. That's why sometimes you have to be very careful. Sometimes your comments can motivate other teams and other players, so you have to be very careful. Sprewell has a lot of pride."

According to a report from Marc Berman in the New York Post Sprewell is relieved to still be playing his home games in the Garden, but he did admit that the rumors of the Lakers perhaps being interested in his services did catch his attention.

"I probably had that thought in my head, because the only thing you want to play for in this game is the chance to win a championship," Sprewell said. "But my heart is here in New York, and I'm happy that I get a chance to keep playing ball here."

The Camera Staff reports on Chris Whitney and his situation.  Orlando, Indiana and LA (rumor is they aren't taking him) are the front runners if he's waived from Denver today or tomorrow.

Tim Brown of the Los Angeles Times reports: The Lakers have choosen to pass on Chris Whitney and look into getting some frontcourt help.

Whitney said Monday his agent was talking to the Orlando Magic and Indiana Pacers.

Possible options for the Lakers include: Mark Bryant, Tyrone Hill, Horace Grant and Stanley Roberts.

Bryant and Hill are still under contract with their respective teams but could be released sometime this week.

Is it possible for a basketballer to struggle to get 41 points?

That was the case last night at the Staples Center when Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant continued on his phenominal run with his ninth consecutive game with 40 or more points, tying Michael Jordan's streak during the 1986-87 season and now sits only five more games behind Wilt Chamberlain's all-time record of 14.

Bryant scored 16 points in the third quarter, hitting on six of eight attempts.  Earlier in the season Bryant made a league record 12 three point shots, but in this one he hit only one, and things certainly were not as open for him this time around.

Bryant sat on 39 points from the 5 minute mark of the fourth quarter until 23 seconds remained in the game, missing five consecutive shots before earning a trip to the free throw line to put him over the magical mark.

I took us out of our system, but that's such a tough challenge to back down from," Bryant said. "I have to apologize to my teammates. It was tough because of the challenge ahead of me."

"These five guys wanted to stop me from scoring a single basket. I'm willing to take my odds on that."

Ray Allen starred in his debut role for the Sonics, coming one assist shy of a triple double while finishing with 26 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists.

Bryant will have an opportunity to tie Chamberlain's record if he can score 40 or more points against the Clippers, Pistons, Sonics, Pacers and Timberwolves.  If he can manage to do this he will then have a chance at surpassing Chamberlain against Philadelphia on March 9.  The game is scheduled to be televised on ABC.

If the Denver Nuggets waive guard Chris Whitney - as expected - this week expect the Orlando Magic to be one of the first to contact the 10 year veteran.  The Magic, however, would have strong competition in the form of the three time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers, who also are looking towards Whitney for a little leadership.

"They're both playoff-contending teams and would be good situations," Whitney said. "Both situations are very appealing to me."

The Magic tried to trade for Whitney in the preseason, when he was with the Washington Wizards. Orlando offered forward/center Andrew DeClercq, but the trade fell through because the Wizards also wanted a first-round draft pick.

"He'd be a guy that we'd have interest in," General Manager John Gabriel said. "We like him. I have to leave it at that."

It was a moment straight out of Hollywood.
     
And, like most Hollywood moments, it was about as far from reality as one can get.
     
It was Kobe's moment, the point in the Lakers' victory over the Utah Jazz last Wednesday when the crowd chanted "Ko-be, Ko-be."
     
Here's how that moment was depicted in the L.A. papers:
     
"Even the locals were impressed," wrote Howard Beck in the Los Angeles Daily News. "By the closing minutes, as he closed in on 40 points, they were chanting 'KO-BE' from the rafters.

Kobe Bryant hit the 40 point plateau for the eighth consecutive time against the Portland Trailblazers, and with each basket it seems that Bryant is taking additional steps to carve out his own legacy.

According to Houston Chronicle writer Jonathan Feigan Kobe?s strongest attribute appears to be the same as Michael Jordan?s ? arguably the greatest ever player ? in his early years; his drive.  Earlier in his career Kobe was compared to Jordan, but how people are starting to look at Kobe as a player establishing his own legend, and Kobe?s recent form supports this.

"The point totals are fair (comparison)," said Lakers coach Phil Jackson, who has coached both. "The type of game is totally different, other than the fact Kobe's size and his spectacular finishes at the basket approximate some of the things Michael did in the past.

"What is there to compare it to right now? That's it. When I go back and think about what people were comparing Michael to when he was doing these types of things, I can't remember. There wasn't anybody. So he's the standard.

"From that standpoint, there's some pride in the fact Kobe can be compared to him, but I don't think it's fair to either player."

Kobe has already passed one of Jordan?s records, with his 12-game streak of 35-point games is the longest since Wilt Chamberlain did it 20 consecutive times in the 1962-63 season.  He passed Jordan at 10.

Bryant will now try to match Jordan's longest run of 40-point games today. Jordan did it nine times early in the 1986-87 season.

"It's a great honor," he said. "An accolade like that is one you can look back at when you retire and say it was a nice accomplishment.

"While you're playing, the only accomplishment is winning games."

Phil Jasner of the Philadelphia Daily News reports: Cleveland Cavaliers forward/center Tyrone Hill wants out so he can sign with a playoff team.

Hill sounded dissapointed that a deal could not be made at Thursday's trading deadline.

"I'm not hurt, I haven't been hurt," Hill said. "This is a decision they made. I was prepared [to move on]. If they don't want me here, why am I here?"

Due to Cleveland's youth movement, Hill has not played in the Cavs' last seven games and has appeared for a total of 10 minutes since Jan. 10.

Hill hopes to get released by March 1st so that he can sign with a playoff team.

However, Hill, citing the business aspect of his profession, said he was not interested in giving back some of his remaining salary to facilitate his release.

Philadelphia is one of the teams likely to be courting him.

"I love Tyrone," Sixers coach Larry Brown said. But, "Why would they release him?"

The Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers would be among the other teams interested in Hill's services if he is released.

It's easy to get overlooked, playing in the superstar shadows of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal.

Especially when Bryant is in a shooting groove of legendary proportions.
     
"The running joke is that when we win it's because of Kobe and Shaq, and when we lose it's the rest of us guys," said Laker forward Rick Fox after L.A.'s 93-87 victory Wednesday night over the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center.