Kobe Bryant Calls Out Lakers Teammates' Heart After Loss To Nuggets In Game 6

Kobe Bryant had a long day and an even longer night on Thursday, battling an intestinal bug as well as the Denver Nuggets. Bryant missed the Lakers' morning shootaround before Game 6 due to his symptoms, later telling reporters that his hotel room resembled a scene from "The Exorcist." Despite whatever projectile vomiting and head-spinning horrors were happening back at the team hotel during the day, Bryant still managed to put up 31 points over a game-high 37 minutes. Unfortunately for him, the rest of the Lakers performed as if they were feeling chills en route to being blown out at the Pepsi Arena 113-96.

Kobe struggled to muster up 31 as he needed two IV bags prior to the game and two more at halftime because of dehydration, per the Los Angeles Times.

Following the Lakers' loss, Bryant was asked about the efforts of his teammates in relation to his own.

Whether he's right or wrong in calling out his teammates, it's hard to argue with the five-time NBA champ. Pau Gasol shot a miserable 1 for 10 from the field and scored just three points. Three. All-Star center Andrew Bynum grabbed 16 rebounds, but his 4-for-11 shooting night overshadowed his double-double. In fact, no one else on the team scored more than 14 points.

Bryant has a day off to rest now before Game 7 will take place on Saturday at the Staples Center. He might feel a little better knowing that his Lakers get Metta World Peace back for the winner-take-all affair, following his seven-game suspension for elbowing Oklahoma City's James Harden.

"He's the one guy that I can rely on night in and night out to compete and play hard and play with that sense of urgency and no fear," Bryant said. "I'm looking forward to having that by my side again."