CLEVELAND (AP) - With 20,000 fans roaring, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James hugged and seemed to be in a world of their own.
One on one.
"It was just a lot of mutual respect," James said of the embrace. "Sometimes what is known doesn't need to be said."
The two superstars shared the same floor in Cleveland for the final time Wednesday night as the Cavaliers, despite playing the second half without Kevin Love, downed the Los Angeles Lakers 120-111 in their last game before the All-Star break.
Kyrie Irving scored a season-high 35 points and James added 29 for the Cavs, who feared Love had re-injured his surgically repaired left shoulder in the first half. However, following the game Love said he only has a "stinger" and doesn't expect to miss any time.
Bryant finished with 17 points in his last performance in Cleveland, where many fans cheered his every move and fans serenaded him with "Ko-be" chants throughout the night.
For James, there has been no player of his era quite like Bryant.
"His competitive nature," James said when asked what he admires most about Bryant. "A lot of guys might be bigger, taller or jump higher, but it's something that's in you that gets you to that level."
The Cavs caught a major scare late in the second quarter when Love left the floor after getting his arm caught under Bryant's while working in the post.
"At the time I really didn't know what it was," Love said. "It's like when you get hit in the funny bone in your elbow, it's just shooting pain. It felt like fire was running down my arm. It's just a stinger."
It's the same shoulder Love had dislocated in the first round of last season's playoffs when Boston center Kelly Olynyk yanked it from the socket while battling for a loose ball. Losing Love disrupted the Cavs' title chase and for a moment Wednesday night, it appeared Cleveland would be without him again.
The Cavs tastefully saluted Bryant during pregame introductions with a video presentation of some of his best moments. Bryant watched the tribute on the arena's gigantic scoreboard before hearing his name and taking the floor with his teammates. He patted his chest in appreciation as Cleveland's crowd - dotted with fans wearing Bryant's purple-and-gold No. 24 jersey - chanted his name.
Before the opening tip, Bryant walked to the Cavs bench and hugged Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue, who won two NBA titles as his teammate in Los Angeles.
Lakers rookie D'Angelo Russell got drilled in his groin area by a hard pass thrown by James in the fourth quarter. Russell dropped to the floor and stayed there for several moments before he walked gingerly to the bench, where Bryant was laughing at him.
"Once I knew he was OK, the jokes write themselves," Bryant said.