NBA Lakers' News, Updates: Kobe Bryant Comeback Game, Dwight Howard Elbow And Julius Randle's Injury

By Noriel Espinueva Oct 29, 2014 06:44 AM EDT

NBA Lakers' News, Updates: Kobe Bryant Comeback Game, Dwight Howard Elbow And Julius Randle's Injury

On the opening night of the "NBA 2014-2015 season". The highly anticipated comeback game of "Kobe Bryant" against the visiting "Houston Rockets" was spoiled by "James Harden", who took the spotlight with 32 points. "Dwight Howard" also added 13 points and 11 rebounds to get their first win of the season against the "Lakers" 108-90.

"Kobe Bryant" only played half a dozen games last season due to Achilles tendon surgery and a fractured left kneecap. "Bryant" played 29 minutes in his first game back at Staples Center Tuesday night and scored 19 points, shooting 6-17 from the field.

The future hall of Famer got into altercation with "Dwight Howard" after battling for a rebound in the fourth quarter. A flagrant one was called against "Dwight Howard" for swinging and hitting Kobe Bryant in the face with an elbow. Kobe responds by calling Dwight "Soft" as seen in the replay and tweeted by John Ledesma.

Kobe called Dwight "soft"

— John Ledesma (@JohnnyNBA) October 29, 2014

Also in the middle of the fourth quarter (6.46 mins) another hard blow hit the Lakers, their seventh overall lottery pick "Julius Randle", the 19-year-old former Kentucky standout has broken his leg after driving to the basket, "Randle" held his leg in pain while the medical staff tended to him. The crowd at Staples Center was silenced even "Kobe Bryant" shook is head in disbelief while trying to comfort their young rookie being held on a stretcher. CNN's Rachel Nichols tweeted :

#Lakers medical staff tells me Julius Randle has broken his leg. Awful to see him carted off here. — Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) October 29, 2014

"Lakers" are already missing other role players in their roster; Veteran point guard and two time season MVP Steve Nash is out with a season ending back injury and might not play again, Nick Young is set to be out for two months (15-20 games) with a torn ligament in his right thumb, Wayne Ellington has a concussion and Ryan Kelly missed the opening as well because of a hamstring injury.

The "Lakers" are trying to prevent what happened last season, their worst performance only winning 27 games. It won't be easy after loosing an all star caliber player Pau Gasol PF/C in free agency to the Chicago Bulls, "Lakers" are still hoping to change the result this season now that they have hired a new coach (Byron Scott) and acquired Carloz Boozer and Jeremy Lin to play alongside a healthy Kobe Bryant.

This is going to be a long season for the "Black Mamba" and for the "Lakers".