The race for the 2011-2012 NBA scoring champion is done before its final act.

Los Angeles Lakers coach Mike Brown said Thursday that All-Star guard Kobe Bryant will not play in the team’s season finale against the Sacramento Kings, according to SI.com and Lakers.com. As such, Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star forward Kevin Durant will win his third consecutive NBA scoring title.

The two players had been neck and neck down the stretch for the scoring crown.

Durant’s Thunder played their season finale on Wednesday. He wrapped the season averaging 28.0 points per game. Bryant finishes with 27.9 points per game. Had Bryant scored 38 or more points per game against the Kings, he would have passed Durant to claim the third scoring title of his 16-year career.

via Ben Golliver of CBS Sports