Kobe won't play; Durant wins scoring title
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant reaches for the ball in front of Dallas Mavericks guard Jason Kidd during the frirt half of Game 2 of the NBA basketball Western Conference finals. (May 19, 2011) Credit: AP
Kobe Bryant won't play tonight against the Sacramento Kings, meaning Kevin Durant will win his third straight scoring title.
Durant averaged 28.0 points per game during the regular season. Bryant, who averaged 27.9, needed to score at least 39 points to win the title.
Bryant isn't injured, but instead chose to rest ahead of the Lakers' opening playoff series, which begins Sunday.
Durant is the first player since Michael Jordan to win three straight scoring titles. Jordan led the league in scoring from 1995-96 to 1997-98.
Durant is also only the seventh NBA player to lead the league in scoring three straight years, joining Jordan, George Gervin, Bob McAdoo, Wilt Chamberlain, Neil Johnston and George Mikan.
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