By Matt Dolloff, 985TheSportsHub.com
Update: The Celtics and Pelicans officially honored Kobe Bryant to start Sunday’s game against the Pelicans. You can watch the teams’ intentional 24-second violations to pay tribute to Bryant’s No. 24 in the video above via the team.
The show will go on in the NBA on Sunday, as the NBA continues on with its slate of games as the basketball world mourns the sudden and devastating loss of Kobe Bryant. But Sunday’s contests were not without tributes to the former five-time NBA champion, who died Sunday in a helicopter accident at age 41.
Watch below (via Sportsnet) to see how the San Antonio Spurs and Toronto Raptors honored Bryant, who wore No. 24 for the final 10 seasons of his 20-year career. Each team took an intentional 24-second shot clock violation to start the game, as the crowd chanted Bryant’s name.
According to 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Jon Wallach, who is doing play-by-play for Sunday’s Celtics game against the New Orleans Pelicans, both teams also intend to take intentional 24-second violations to start the game at Smoothie King Center.
Bryant played 31 career regular season games against the Celtics, averaging 25.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.4 assists. He won NBA Finals MVP in 2010 after the Lakers defeated the Celtics in seven games.
Matt Dolloff is a digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff or email him at matthew.dolloff@bbgi.com.