BIG NIGHT IN THE NBA:
It was historic night for NBA basketball in California Thursday. In Los Angeles, Kobe Bryant concluded his 20-year run with the Lakers by scoring 60 points and leading the team to a 101-96 comeback victory. It put a nice capper on Kobe's incredible career, despite the Lakers dismal season.
Celebs at Staples Center to witness Kobe's final game included the Lakers faithful Jack Nicholson, Red Hot Chili Peppers' bassist Flea(who played the National Anthem on bass prior to the game) and Snoop Dogg, as well as Kanye West, David Beckham and Jay Z. Several of Kobe's teammates over the years were also in attendance, including Shaquille O'Neal, Lamar Odom and Derek Fisher.
Across the state in Oakland, the defending champion Golden State Warriors set a new NBA record by getting their 73rd win of the season, topping a mark set by the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls of 1995-96. The icing on the cake, Warriors star Steph Curry made his 400th 3-pointer of the season in the Warriors 125-104 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.
"AFFLUENZA" TEEN WILL SPEND 2 YEARS IN JAIL
The so-called "affluenza" teen is not getting off easy due to his family's wealth this time. On Wednesday, Ethan Couch was order to spend nearly two years in jail. The exact sentence is 180 days for each of the four individuals who died due to his 2013 drunk-driving car crash.
Although the sentence won't bring back those killed in the crash, the families of the victims will likely take some solace in knowing that Couch is finally being punished. Prior to Wednesday's sentencing, Couch's only punishment was probation, which led the families of some of the victims to file civil lawsuits seeking financial compensation.
Couch, who turned 19 Monday while locked up in a Texas jail, is no longer considered a minor. It's unclear whether his time already spent in jail will be deducted from his 720-day sentence.
WILL SMITH: KILLER OF FORMER NFL PLAYER CALLED A HERO
Last weekend's shooting death of former New Orleans Saints player Will Smith may have actually been a case of self-defense.
The 34-year-old former defensive end was shot and killed by Cardell Hayes who rear-ended Smith, setting off a road rage encounter. That's when Hayes allegedly pulled out a gun and shot Smith dead. Smith's wife was also shot in the leg and is recovering in the hospital.
But police are investigating the events that led up to the shooting, and a passenger who was in the car with Hayes says that Smith was the aggressor and that Hayes was acting in self defense. Kevin Oneale says Hayes saved his life because Smith had a gun and was going to shoot them both. Police have confirmed that a loaded 9mm gun was found inside Smith's car.
Oneale is not charged in the case but has hired a lawyer who released a statement saying, "Was Will Smith acting like a Saint? This was a hit-and-run that ended up in a tragedy. You’ve got the aggression of two football players, facing off with each other as if they are on the field and you are going to get your point across by any means necessary." At least one witness has said that Smith threatened to get his gun first. Oneale's lawyer is calling it "justifiable homicide."
HOLLYWOOD BUZZ:
The jacket Harrison Ford wore in Star Wars: The Force Awakens sold for $191,000 on Tuesday. The star donated the autographed memento to an auction benefiting epilepsy research. (Ford's daughter Georgia suffers from the condition)
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