Kobe Bryant wore a look of exhaustion Wednesday, some 15 hours after a most amazing performance.
"I'm looking forward to sleeping all day," he told reporters with a smile.
After flying back from a Colorado courtroom, Bryant scored 15 of his 42 points in the fourth quarter Tuesday night to lead the Lakers to a 98-90 victory over the Spurs and even their Western Conference semifinal series at 2-2.
With the Lakers about to board an airplane to San Antonio for Game 5 tonight, Bryant had plenty of time for rest.
"He's recovering today," coach Phil Jackson said. "Hopefully, he has the energy tomorrow to play."
Oh, Bryant will have the energy. It seems he always does when it's time to take the court.
"I love to play," Bryant said. "I love to compete. I love to play at the highest level."
For some reason, Bryant has played at his highest level each time he's had to shuttle between the courtroom, where he faces a rape charge, and Los Angeles for a game the same night.
It's happened four times — most recently against the Spurs when he scored from every conceivable angle in shooting 15-of-27 and didn't commit a turnover.
Bryant pleaded not guilty to his sexual assault charge in Eagle, Colo., about 6 1/2 hours before the opening tip-off.
He said he got about three hours sleep Monday night.
"I don't know — I really don't know," he said when asked why he's been able to excel in such situations.
There was Dec. 19, when he arrived during the first quarter of a game against Denver and made a 20-foot jumper as time expired to give the Lakers a 101-99 victory.
There was March 24, when he scored 36 points in a 115-92 win over Sacramento.
And there was April 28, when he had 31 points and 10 assists with one turnover in a 97-78 triumph over Houston in the fifth and final game of the Lakers' first-round playoff series against the Rockets.
Teammate Shaquille O'Neal called Bryant "the best player in the NBA by far" after Bryant scored 45 points in a 104-90 victory over the Spurs in Game 1 of the 2001 Western Conference finals.
"Once again, I have to title him as the best player ever," O'Neal said after Tuesday night's performance.
PISTONS GLAD TO BE HOME: In a postseason of home-court domination, the Detroit Pistons aren't worried about their recent road embarrassments in New Jersey.
"This is the reason why you play 82 games, to try to get home-court advantage," Detroit's Tayshaun Prince said. "We did our job at home, and we didn't on the road. It's important for us to not let them come in and get a win."
The Pistons won Games 1 and 2 of the best-of-seven series at home by 22 and 15 points. They lost the next two on the road, which the Nets won by 18 and 15 points.
Game 5 in the Eastern Conference semifinal is Friday at The Palace, and if necessary, Game 7 will be back in suburban Detroit next week.
Kerry Kittles said the two-time Eastern Conference champion Nets feel good about going back on the road even though they were routed in Game 1, and blew a 12-point halftime lead in Game 2.
"Even after the games in Detroit our confidence wasn't shaken as a team," Kittles said. "We have experience and guys know what they can and can't do."
BROWN FINED: Detroit Pistons coach Larry Brown was fined $7,500 Wednesday by the NBA for criticizing officials.
"I expected that," Brown said Wednesday after practice. "I'm not saying anything I don't believe in my heart."
On Monday, Brown said referees tried to antagonize Pistons forward Rasheed Wallace, who was limited to 22 minutes in a Game 3 loss against the New Jersey Nets because of foul trouble.
"It's just not right, it's not fair," Brown said. "I just think they disrespect the kid in general, that's the bottom line. They can fine me or whatever they want. I'm just telling you a fact."