Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard sat out during the team's 98-92 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday and L.A. star Kobe Bryant weighed in on Howard's feud with Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant.
Bryant, who often clashed with Howard when they were teammates during the 2012-13 campaign, said he didn't believe that Durant actually thought that Howard was a "p---y," which is what the Oklahoma City Thunder superstar called him recently.
"No, I don't feel that way. I don't think Kevin does, either," Bryant told ESPN Los Angeles. "In moments of confrontation during a game, you'll say things in the heat of the moment. I know Dwight. I'm sure Kevin does. We don't really feel that way about him. It's like when you get in an argument with somebody, you'll say things out of frustration, out of anger, that you don't really mean."
Bryant, who put up 29 points against Houston to secure the Lakers their third win of the season through the first 12 games, has called Howard soft in the past.
Bryant and Howard recently clashed in the two teams' previous meeting on Oct. 28 after Howard elbowed Bryant in the chin in a game that Houston won 108-90 at the Staples Center. The two had to be separated and were trash-talking each other, leading to each receiving technical fouls.
During the altercation, Bryant hurled a bunch of insults in the direction of Howard and even called the center "soft."
Bryant played down the altercation between the two after Wednesday's game.
"Heat of the battle, heat of the moment," Bryant said of the disagreement. "You [reporters] have all been in arguments, you guys that are married. Sometimes you say things that you wish you could take back that you don't really mean. But it's in the heat of confrontation, and sometimes things come out."
Bryant realizes this day and age he needs to be more careful with his comments.
"Well, in the moment, no. In hindsight, yes," he said. "Especially now with social media and [the fact that] everybody has a camera. You try to be as conscious as possible to the fact that kids are watching."
For now, the Lakers will just look to improve upon their 3-9 record under new head coach Byron Scott after finishing a franchise-worst 27-55 last season and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2005.
The Rockets and Lakers meet for the third and last time in the regular season on Jan. 25 at the Staples Center.
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