For four years, they tormented Malik Rose. They caused him pain. Ridicule.

Finally, on Thursday night, standing in a corner of the visitors' locker room at Staples Center, Rose was free at last. So he smiled.

For the first time in four years, the metal braces that lined his upper teeth were nowhere to be seen.

On Wednesday morning, Rose had his detested dental work taken off during a visit to the orthodontist. It was a joyous moment for him, exceeded in celebration only by the subsequent removal a day later of another longtime nuisance.