Spectacle: London's O2 was packed for the NBA Europe Live game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Minnesota TimberwolvesA star-studded crowd packed London's O2 on Monday night as the the Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves went head-to-head in an NBA pre-season game.
Arsenal players Robin van Persie, Thomas Vermaelen, Cesc Fabregas and Carlos Vela were among those watching on. Bobby Zamora and Darren Bent continued the Premier League theme.
Star attraction Kobe Bryant managed only six minutes in the match as his much-anticipated appearance turned into a disappointment as he failed to score before being pulled from the game, still hampered by the knee injury which forced him to miss the FIBA World Championship this year.
Lakers coach Phil Jackson had said he planned to start Bryant and see how his knee responded, hoping to get 15 minutes out of him, but the news was apparently not good as he did not return once benched midway through the opening quarter.
Chants of 'We want Kobe' from the crowd fell on deaf ears as Jackson stood by his pledge not to risk the 32-year-old shooting guard.
Surging forward: Sasha Vujacic of the LA Lakers brings the ball out as his team-mates play catch-upBryant's appearance was the main selling point as the NBA made its fourth appearance here for a pre-season game.
Next year, the league will bring regular-season action to the O2 for the first time as part of their ongoing efforts to raise the profile of basketball in the country ahead of the 2012 London Olympics.
Crocked lot: Arsenal players (L-R) Robin van Persie, Thomas Vermaelen, Cesc Fabregas and Carlos Vela watch on from courtside
Star turns: Kobe Bryant (left) lasted only six minutes before injury curtailed his night, but Minnesota Timberwolves' Martell Webster (right) impressed the crowd at times
The Toronto Raptors and New Jersey Nets will play two games here in March, the first NBA regular-season games to be played in Europe.
Games that count should sell themselves to British basketball fans, but there was no question tonight had been about the Lakers' superstar players.
Sadly they were in short supply. After Bryant hit the bench with six minutes gone, Spain centre Pau Gasol joined him two minutes later after picking up three quick fouls, and he did not return until the second half.
Switch it up: Steve Blake attempts to set up a three-pointer for his out-of-shot team-mate
Dunk: Lakers man Theo Ratliff climbs above the crowd to slam dunk two more pointsIn their absence, the young Minnesota Timberwolves team showed why they are being tipped to ruffle some feathers this season.
Following a tight first half, they pulled ahead early in the third quarter,taking advantage of some sloppy play from the defending NBA champions.
Getting pulses racing: The cheerleaders put on a show as impressive as the basketball during the intervalsOnce a double-digit lead had been established, the Lakers - even with Gasol back on court - never looked like getting back into it as they struggled to find any offensive rhythm.
Instead it was the Timberwolves pair of Martell Webster and Michael Beasley who stole the show, scoring 24 and 21 points respectively.
Lamar Odom led the Lakers with 17 points, with Shannon Brown adding 12. As for Bryant, British fans will now have to wait two years and hope he takes his place in the United States squad when they defend their title in the Olympic Games.
Showpiece: LA Lakers, the most famous team in the NBA, put on quite the show
Famous faces: Bobby Zamora and Darren Bent were also in the crowd for the matchsource :dailymail
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