NBA: Dahntay Jones denies trying to hurt Kobe

[Video courtesy of The Point Forward]

Atlanta Hawk Dahntay Jones took to Twitter to defend himself from Kobe Bryant's charges, which alleged that the latter's late injury in a 96-92 Hawks win, Wednesday (Thursday, PHL time), was intentional on Jones' part.

[Related: Short-handed Hawks survive Lakers, as Kobe Bryant goes down late]

Bryant had fallen with an ankle injury after failing to connect on a potential game-tying shot with seconds left in the fourth quarter. Initial reports had him rolling his ankle on Jones' foot, which led to the Black Mamba tweeting out "#dangerousplay that should have been called. Period." and telling media that he likened the incident to Jalen Rose's supposed attempt to injure him during the 2000 NBA Finals.

Tape doesn't lie. Ankle was turned on the floor after the leg kick out that knocked him off balance. I would never try to hurt the man

— Dahntay (@dahntay1) March 14, 2013
 

Leg kick that makes contact with a defensive player is an offense foul. Period. The nba changed that rule 2 yrs ago. Stop it!

— Dahntay (@dahntay1) March 14, 2013
 

Jones however disputes this, saying "I would never try to hurt the man," and adding that "Tape doesn't lie. Ankle was turned on the floor after the leg kick out that knocked him off balance."

The defense-oriented guard also added, "Leg kick that makes contact with a defensive player is an offensive foul. Period. The nba changed that rule 2 yrs ago. Stop it!"

@thadeacon I respectfully disagree. He knows what he did and anyone with half a brain can see it. I don't want it to happen to anyone else!

— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) March 14, 2013
 

One of Bryant's Twitter followers pointed out to him that he had kicked out his foot, in agreement to what Jones alleges, but Bryant "respectfully" disagreed, saying, "He knows what he did and anyone with half a brain can see it. I don't want it to happen to anyone else!"

Bryant sullen and angry over ankle sprain, called it his worst sprain since 2000 season.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) March 14, 2013
 

Kobe's unhappy w/ Dahntay Jones, whose foot he landed on after fadeaway miss in final seconds. "Officials need to protect shooters," he says

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) March 14, 2013
 

Kobe Bryant on Dahntay Jones' part in the play: "I can't get my mind past the fact that I've got to wait a year to get revenge."

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) March 14, 2013
 

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports also reported that Bryant was calling it his "worst sprain since 2000 season" and that the Black Mamba had said, "I can't get my mind past the fact that I've got to wait a year to get revenge."

[Related: Despite negative x-rays, Bryant 'out indefinitely' with severe ankle sprain - reports]

The Lakers ruled their lead scorer "out indefinitely," but play their next contest on Friday (Saturday, PHL time) against the Indiana Pacers. - AMD, GMA News