The Los Angeles Lakers didn't exactly display a Mamba Mentality in the team's 112-97 Game 1 loss to the Houston Rockets in the Western Conference Semifinals on Saturday, especially on offense.

For Game 2, the franchise will need to channel the spirit — and playoff prowess — of the late, great Kobe Bryant as they look to even the series. With that in mind, the Lakers will wear their Bryant-inspired “Black Mamba” jerseys for Sunday's game:

The previous time L.A. donned the black jerseys came in the team's best performance of the restart: a 135-115 Game 4 romp in the first round against the Portland Trail Blazers on “Mamba Day” (8/24). After the win, Lakers general manager and Bryant's longtime friend and agent Rob Pelinka said he felt Kobe's spirit in the bubble:

“We were able to play with uplifted spirits to honor the beautiful lives of Kobe and Gigi. We played this game like they both played — with a laser focus on the highest level of competition, and with a purpose of getting better,” Pelinka said to ESPN's Dave McMenamin. “We are very grateful for that.”

The Lakers players echoed those sentiments after the victory:

“It’s been an honor, to put on a Laker uniform even before the passing of the great Kobe Bryant,” said LeBron James. “But tonight was another one of those moments for myself and this organization, for all the players to wear those uniforms that was inspired by him and his mind and his creativity. To go out there one day removed from his birthday and on his day of 8/24, to be able to have a game on this day, the stars aligned.”