The Kobe-LeBron debate picked up from where they left off on Christmas day with similar results as #23 did his best to overshadow #24’s big night.

LeBron James scored 37 points, including 12 straight down the stretch, and the Cavs, playing their first game without injured Mo Williams, beat Kobe Bryant and the NBA champions 93-87 on Thursday night.

Kobe Bryant scored 31 points to lead the Lakers but went cold in the second half when he only shot 4 of 15 from the field.  Earlier in the first half, he became the youngest player ever to reach 25,000 career points.

Tonight was the beginning of a big 8 game road trip for the Lakers who have played a great majority of their games at home so far this season.

Cleveland sweeps the season series between the league’s top two teams. This should give the Cavs a lot of confidence and swag should they stay on course and meet in June’s NBA Finals; knowing they can go toe to toe with the defending champions with or without one of their key players in Mo Williams.

LeBron has now won seven of his last nine head-to-head meetings against Kobe.

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