Bryant And Bynum Combine For 59, Lakers Sink Clippers 99-92

Posted by Stephen Rhodes under NBA Game Recap, NBA Regular Season Opener

Los Angeles guard Kobe Bryant (#24)

Typically for the Lakers against any given opponent, the offense is chiefly Kobe Bryant, probably Pau Gasol and a player du jour. It just so happened that Gasol, due to a hamstring injury, would not play in the Lakers’ season opener against their crosstown rival Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday.

But there was a ring ceremony to tend to. All the Lakers legends were there, including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jerry West, Jamaal Wilkes, James Worthy and many others. Naturally, the team got their gaudy rings, as well. And then there was the game. Interestingly enough, the Clippers made the game competitive for the most part. But instead of Gasol supporting Bryant in this game, it was wide body Andrew Bynum who came up big as he and Bryant combined for 59 points, leading the Lakers to a hard-fought 99-92 win over the Clippers at Staples Center.

The Lakers did a latter-day version of Showtime as Bryant scored 13 first quarter points, helping the Lakers take a healthy 32-22 lead going into the second quarter; the second quarter was a bit tighter as it was 12 minutes of attrition. Both teams would score 27 points each as the Lakers held a 59-49 lead going into the third quarter.

The Clippers rebounded in the third frame as a pair of buckets by Eric Gordon (including a three-pointer) with 1:00 left in the period allowed the Clippers to inch to within 76-73; a basket by Marcus Camby got them to within 76-75 going into the final quarter. The Lakers widened their lead to 15 at 94-79 on a Ron Artest layup with 5:11 left in the game, but Gordon would convert a three-point play with 1:31 left, narrowing the Lakers’ advantage to 96-88. A Bynum free throw with 38 ticks left on the game clock would ensure the Lakers victory.

Bryant lead all Lakers scorers with a game-high 33 points with 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals and a block while Bynum added 26 with 13 rebounds, 2 assists, a steal and a block; Lamar Odom pitched in 16 with 13 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks.

Gordon led the Clippers with 21 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and a block while Chris Kaman added a double-double with 18 points, 16 rebounds, an assist and 2 steals; Camby chipped in 14 with 6 rebounds, 4 assists and a steal. The Lakers (1-0) play again on Friday when they host the Dallas Mavericks while the Clippers (0-1) play again on Wednesday when they host the Phoenix Suns in their home opener.

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