Unbeknownst to the casual NBA or Los Angeles Lakers fan, coach Phil Jackson was fast approaching a milestone that no other coach will ever do – become the winningest coach for not one, but two NBA teams. And it certainly wasn’t comforting to Jackson knowing that his star player, Kobe Bryant, was hobbling.

During the Lakers’ game Wednesday night against the Charlotte Bobcats, Bryant would be a non-factor; however, for once, someone else not named Bryant took the lead. In this case, it was Lamar Odom; he would be the X factor in the fourth quarter with some timely defense, helping Los Angeles hold off Charlotte 99-97 at Staples Center. The win would help Jackson achieve a very rare milestone: he is now the only NBA coach to become the winningest coach for two teams – Chicago and Los Angeles.

The first quarter wasn’t one to write home about as both teams shot poorly; Charlotte would briefly hold a four-point lead and would settle for a slim, two-point edge going into the second quarter. Los Angeles would take the lead at 24-23 on a Pau Gasol free throw and would extend their lead to five on a Ron Artest jumper. D.J. Augustin would tie the game at 38 on a pair of free throws, but the Lakers would regain the lead and enter the break with a 49-47 edge.

Neither team held a lead larger than seven going into the fourth quarter and the Bobcats would erase an eight-point Lakers lead; Nazr Mohammed’s jumper with 1:38 left in the game reduced Los Angeles’ lead to 93-92, but Gasol replied with a quick hook shot before blocking Stephen Jackson’s layup. After Odom tipped in Artest’s layup, Bryant missed a three-point attempt with 20 seconds left to give the Bobcats one last chance to win; however, Jordan Farmar  forced a turnover on Jackson’s ill-advised inbounds pass and made a fast-break dunk wioth 4.5 seconds remaining, sealing the victory.

Odom came off the bench to lead the Lakers with 19 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and a steal while Andrew Bynum added 17 with 14 rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block; Artest and Gasol pitched in 14 each – with Artest grabbing 2 rebounds along with a steal while Gasol grabbed 3 rebounds, dished out 5 assists along with a steal and 3 blocks.

The Hornets were led by Jackson with 30 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals while Mohammed chipped in 23 with 17 rebounds, an assist and a block; Ronald Murray added 15 (including three treys) with an assist.

Los Angeles (38-12) plays again on Friday when they host the Denver Nuggets while Charlotte (24-24) returns home to host the New Orleans Hornets Saturday night.